Madonna’s brother Christopher Ciccone’s’ “unauthorized” biography, Life With My Sister Madonna, certainly came at a convenient time for the pop star, even if she was said to object to its content. Madonna’s “Sticky and Sweet” tour starts later this summer and people are saying Madonna must be behind it since she’ll stop at nothing to get any kind of press. It isn’t that much of a logical leap considering how she’s managed her career to date. Recently she’s been accused of capitalizing on her cult-loving friendship with Alex Rodriguez to fuel affair rumors. She issued a statement that people are so easily fooled by the supposedly fake stories about their affair while she’s said to be lapping up the coverage behind the scenes.
Christopher’s book doesn’t paint a compassionate picture of the powerhouse diva, but Page Six says that doesn’t matter to her – they claim she made sure that it was acceptable before it went to publication and that she underwrote passages herself:
MADONNA is truly the master of media manipulation. “The supposed scandal about [her brother] Christopher Ciccone’s book is bull[bleep],” an insider told Page Six. “She actually ghost-wrote parts of it with him, the way Princess Diana helped Andrew Morton write his book on her. That’s why there’s nothing too devastating in Chris’s book. He’s mean to others, but not so much to his sister.” In addition, Madge, now frighteningly rail thin, exploited Alex Rodriguez. “She flirted with him and manipulated him,” our source declared. “She didn’t count on wife Cynthia leaving him and naming her in the divorce, though.” Madonna is using the buzz over her relationship with A-Rod to her benefit. “She’s ordered three A-Rod Yankee jerseys she’ll wear in the finale of her upcoming shows. All of this was created to sell tickets for her tour, which hasn’t been selling so well.” A rep for Madonna didn’t return calls.
[From Page Six]
The NY Post is far from reliable and it’s possible they’re just basing this story on an educated guesses that people are making considering the book’s timing. I am inclined to believe that Madonna really isn’t behind the biography at all and that she’s pissed off at Chris. He came off as completely honest about it in interviews and the details he revealed about her were not flattering to her. He said she only gives their grandmother $500 a month, that she uses Kabbalah like a weapon, and that he’s not talking to her anymore. It’s possible he’s as much of a master manipulator as his sister, though, and that he’s not revealing that they worked together on the book in exchange for a boatload of money. Or maybe they did have a falling out and she contributed some parts of the book but doesn’t agree with everything that’s in there. As it is we’re giving Madonna far too much attention by even speculating on this crap.
Madonna is shown out at the Kabbalah Centre on Saturday. That’s Sabbath day in Judaism and she’s wearing a freaking jogging suit and high heeled sneakers to church. Credit: WENN
I think there’s a very good chance she did. And I so disagree with the idea that Chris came across as honest! He constantly cast himself in a very sanctimonous light. I think he’s capable of the exact same degree of manipulation as she is. There’s no such thing as bad publicity where Madonna’s concerned.
Personally, I don’t think any the less of her if it’s true. It sounds much more likely than this wounded animal act she’s been trying to sell for the last couple of months. She’s not known as the High Priestess of Manipulation for nothing.
remember I said in a previous post that maybe they were ‘still thick as theives’ and this was all to help her tour as her last tour had sagging ticket sales and was cut short.
Doesn’t surprise me at all. He was her tour manager in Truth or Dare and they had fun making their other siblings feel like outcasts.
Madonna a media whore who is manipulative?….say it isn’t so. What do we expect. She has always been good at spin not at having actual talent.
Only bought the book because I thought it was ‘unauthorized.’ I want my money back.
Can I sue for selling a book under false pretences?!
oh, I hope she did. Wouldn’t that be a big FU to the whole ‘unauthorized book”-buying public. Awesome!
I caught some hell here for suggesting this, and that Madge was playing the A-Rod thing for publicity (without a thought for his kids or his ex.)
What else to you expect!? This is Madge, come on!
Why do people still believe she is an innocent, abused, flower whose mother died which makes her a lonely orphan for life? The other side being, Madge is some valiant fighter, a GEN-yus!, best friend to all gays. Gah! She’s a cult, I tell you.
Wouldn’t be surprised at all. How do we know its true about the granny? Because it’s in the book? – for all we know she could be giving her $500 a day and the whole story is Madges’ idea of giving the public what they want. She plays the public like a violin so anything is possible.
BS…the book is too negative. This is a woman who smoked for years (still does maybe) but hid it. I remember in the 90s how the media would say she treated her body like a ‘temple’. Yes, she’s always been in good physical shape but the healthy thing has always been an image thing. Considering the smoking, drugs and drinking. This I know from reading Morton’s book, for whatever that is worth.
She smoked cigarettes?
A desperate, aging, insecure woman who cannot handle the fact that she’s not the superstar she once was.
Why can’t she just allow the spotlight to fade, enjoy the fruits of her earlier success and just enjoy her family?
Shades of Sunset Boulevard…
Oh! I so totally called this!! Remember, you guys? Igotta search back in Celebitchy’s archives from a few weeks ago, and find it – I’ll show you guys my old post. I had this very suspicion, that they worked on it together, her for the publicity, him for the cash and for his OWN publicity.
In the book, which I picked up and stood reading at Border’s for like an hour I read him directly write that Madonna does not and did not use drugs at all, or drink, but I think we all know that’s got to be pretty much utter horseshit. I remember the tabloid stories about her from way back in the day, the late eighties/early nineties, reading about all Madonna’s random hook-ups and drug & champagne fueled all-nighters in Hollywood or New York.
Yeah, Snowy, you did call it. A lot of us did. I read some of Chris’ book on another site & I have to tell you this: Madonna’s communion picture was always of a pretty girl. I remember because she so resembled me at that time in life. For the tell-all, they photoshopped Madge’s communion pic and put gorgeous fringes of eyelashes and some other tweaking. Somewhere i have an old mag that has the original photo. I will scan it & put it on here. I just have to find it. That was another dead give a way that she is in on this book. See, she doesn’t think the $500 allotment to Grandma will hurt her image. The tell all book is basically set up so when she does leave Guy & has her reunion w/her brother, Guy will seem like the bad guy. Another publicity spin. Madonna, this is the world of blogs & comments. Surely you know & hate the bloggers & their crew (us) who will expose you. The best part is that a commenter on a blog may be privy to your antics & see right through you. Ah…technology.
I always thought she was in on the book & I even posted it here
Dear Madonna,
When you were touring the world, so was I. I was in youth hostels for $15 a night. You were in suites when I worried about getting back to the hostel by 3 a.m. when they shut their doors. France & Netherlands the most forgiving. Germans, no. Lucky if you got 2 a.m. call. Wherever, I still have those friends of more than 10 yrs. ago. I am so much better than you. Don’t fret. xox Nan. I’ll explain the use of Nan later. I never liked the name Nan or Nancy but when they come a/you, you’d better duck. Heads up!