Madonna shared a moving tribute on Instagram this Sunday, October 6 following the death of her brother Christopher Ciccone. The latter died at the age of 63 on Friday October 4 following cancer.
In a long message full of emotion, the 66-year-old singer looks back on their unique relationship, marked by deep complicity.
“My brother Christopher is gone. He was the closest human being to me for so long. It’s hard to explain our bond. But it came from an understanding that we were different and that society was going to give us a hard time for not following the status quo,” says the star, accompanying her text with numerous photos of them.
The pop icon then shares how dance played a central role in their bond. Before even dreaming of a musical career, Madonna wanted to break out as a dancer, a passion she shared with Christopher Ciccone. “Dancing was a kind of superglue that held us together. Discovering dance in our small Midwestern town saved me, and then my brother came along, and it saved him too,” she explains. They both came from Bay City, Michigan, a very conservative town
She fondly remembers their ballet teacher, also named Christopher: “He created a safe space for my brother to be gay. A word that was never spoken or even whispered” in their original environment.
Christopher Ciccone was not only a brother, he also played a major role in Madonna’s career. “We danced together on stage early in my career and eventually he became creative director for many of my tours,” she recalls. He also appeared in the music video for “Lucky Star.”
However, their relationship has not been smooth. Christopher even wrote a book, “Life with My Sister Madonna,” where he looked back on their conflicts. Despite past tensions, the singer confides that her brother’s illness brought them closer together: “When he got sick, we found our way to each other. I did my best to keep him alive as long as possible. He was in so much pain towards the end.”
The tribute ends on a peaceful note: “I am happy that he is no longer suffering. There will never be anyone like him. I know he’s dancing somewhere.”
