Madonna is facing legal action from a concert attendee who alleges that her recent performance in Los Angeles crossed the line into “pornography without warning.”
Justen Lipeles, the plaintiff, filed a lawsuit claiming that during Madonna’s Celebration world tour concert on March 7 at the Kia Forum venue, he was subjected to explicit content without prior notice.
According to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, Lipeles purchased four tickets for $500 each, with the concert scheduled to begin at 8:30 pm.
However, the performance allegedly started two hours late, leaving attendees like Lipeles feeling frustrated and uncomfortable.
Furthermore, Lipeles claims that Madonna refused to allow the air conditioning to be turned on, leading to excessively hot conditions inside the venue.
Madonna reportedly told fans to remove their clothes when they complained about the heat.
During the concert, Lipeles asserts that Madonna lip-synced most of the performance and that he was subjected to scenes of topless women simulating sex acts on stage.
He describes feeling as though he was watching a pornographic film being made, causing him emotional distress.
The lawsuit filed by Lipeles accuses Madonna and Live Nation, the concert’s promoter, of breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, unfair competition, false advertising, and emotional distress.
Lipeles is seeking compensatory damages, legal costs, and a refund for the concert tickets.
This lawsuit is reminiscent of a previous legal action during Madonna’s Celebration tour in January, where attendees sued her for a late start to her concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Madonna and Live Nation defended the late start, citing technical issues.
Despite these legal challenges, Madonna’s Celebration tour has been praised by critics and audiences alike.
The tour, which concluded with a free concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, generated $225 million in ticket revenue after 80 dates.
