Well it didn’t take long for rumors of Madonna being a diva-esq bitch to surface on her latest tour. Madge has been a legendarily demanding over-perfectionist since her early days. In fact a lot of people have argued that’s why she’s been successful for so long, and maybe that’s true. Still you’d think that with her crazy amount of money it wouldn’t be impossible for her to show some kindness to her employees – she’s got over 250 of them on her current Sticky & Sweet tour.
Members of Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet tour crew are reportedly fuming after they were forced to stay in a cheap hotel while she booked in to a luxury castle.
Several of the 250-strong staff are said to be unhappy at their travel and accommodation arrangements for the mammoth jaunt, which began last month. It is claimed they were furious at being booked on no-frills airlines while the Material Girl flew by private jet.
Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper also reports that there is growing resentment after the singer recently stayed at a $20,000 a night castle on the Cote d’Azur, while some crew were put up in a $92.50 a night hotel.
A source tells the newspaper, “Everyone is absolutely furious with her… they feel they are being treated like second-class citizens, despite all their hard work over the last few months.”
[From Starpulse]
This is one of those stories that – if it’s true – I could argue both sides. On the one hand Madonna is their employer, and she’s only responsible for making sure they have safe, reasonable accommodations. There’s no union stipulation that they must be in fancy or even nice digs, as far as I know. She’s paying them a legal wage and all that.
But I’m guessing most of the employees are actually annoyed because they’re working their butts off and they probably don’t get much credit. I would think if anyone’s show would be demanding in all aspects, it’d be Madonna’s. Everyone needs positive reinforcement. Perhaps if she were more liberal in showing her appreciation in other ways, her crew wouldn’t begrudge her the $20,000. Okay any reasonable person would probably be annoyed by that – but maybe less so. And these are the guys who set up her trap doors and special effects. I’d want them on my good side.
Here’s Madonna leaving her gym in London after a workout today. Images thanks to WENN.
I doubt that it’s actually Madonna who sits down and plans who sleeps where. She must have some one doing it for her. I bet she doesn’t even know the names of those 250 people (and probably doesn’t care, hehe) so how can she alone be responsible for booking hotels rooms?
Those people working for her must be kinda masochistic anyway…I’d say most of them are doing it to tell everyone they’ve work for Madonna. 😉
I agree– these are things that tour managers, producers and business managers usually take care of…
She as the employer, should know this, ignorance is not an excuse. As JayBird states, she is known for being a perfectionist.
Keep your employees happy, in return they will work harder for you.
nothing screams a true follower of any religion like treating others as you would do yourself
Capitalism at it’s finest. Why not spread the wealth around a bit, if anyone can it’s Madonna. She must feel she’s worth every penny she’s made when in fact she was lucky. Yes, she’s worked incredibly hard but in the whole scheme of things she’s a wee bit over paid.
*GASP*
MADONNA cannot be BOTHERED by the details of the LITTLE PEOPLE, daisy!!!
😆
What a bunch of whiners! I’m sure their accommodations are perfectly adequate. Do they expect to be wined and dined on this tour? They need to get over themselves.
DIVA, AGREED!!!!!!!!!!! I read in Vanity Fair in an interview with her, that she hires people to do this. She does NOT tell them where or how to fly them or where to sleep them. She gives a generous budget,( it was quite hefty ), and it included food as well. All 3 meals, plus extra’s for emergencies that the crew and dancers and singers may have. She said she also carries a ” lavish insurance policy” through a company in London, on her workers ( and their families ) in case of sickness or injuries. She has a private chef and trainer as well that goes with her. ( stylist, make-up, costumer. etc. ) I find it hard to believe that after reading that article, that someone in ” the Madonna Company” would gripe about accomadations after all of that. They should be so lucky. If ONE person complained about ANYTHING, it probably got blown out of porportion. On their generous salary as well, they could go find their OWN hotel and keep quite before their to-die-for job is taken by the next person in line.
she’s a “materiel girl”!!! besides the people who work for madonna are not the ones who 30 years ago started breaking “new ground.” they are basically nobodies so they should be happy just being invited to tour the world with her. Backup dancers are NOT Madonna and they should be happy to not have to stay in a Hostle.
I find this story intersting..she has had many of the same back up singers, musicians, and dancers do multiple tours with her. If she was such a bitch that would never happen. Also, as previous posters have mentioned, a business manager or tour producer would handle accomodations.
Hey, if I was Madonna…I would be at a $20,000 a night hotel. As well, why does the crew members of 250 people need the same hotel as Madonna? They’re lucky to be even working for her and have a job let alone complain about where they’re sleeping! Sure she is a Diva but she’s worked her ass off since the 80’s, although I wasn’t impressed when she lip synced at her concert, especially when tickets were $450.00! Plus it’s NOT her that gets her employees their hotel, airfare and whatever else they get, it’s her management and other Public relations who takes care of all that. Heck I’d be happy with free hotel’s and airfare all around the world to all of her concerts.
They need to think that there’s starving people out there who have nothing!! 🙄
Megan: good point. It’s not Madge who books the accomodation. And if there are a 250-strong crew, you cant house them all in luxury. I know she has a reputation for being a tight-wad, but these people are not on holiday; they’re working.
Come on, she authorizes the budget and all of the details. Control freak Madonna knows every detail. $90 hotel rooms in big cities are gross (bedbugs, cockroaches and dirty. ) pretty much a bargain basement room at that price.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
Vadge is rich enough to send them all first class.
Wow. They’re complaining because they stay at a room 95 a night. I was thinking they were staying at some Third World Country hotel. They’re probably really nice hotels, but they’re just being whinny pricks. If I heard them bitching, I would make them sleep in a hostel or in some cheap motel with cockroaches. See if they like their 95 a night hotel better than sleeping in hostels or in rented SUVs. Damn pricks. Now they want attention and come out on Oprah Winfrey.
It is all run by live nation aka Clear Channel the don’t care about labor at all
Cheapskate, tight as a duck’s ass! Or maybe tight as the ass Kevin Spacey was grabbing!
This tour is bad. Someone will get badly hurt or killed from the excess of working hours required. There are no off days, crew is getting battered. Why put us through that? She has more money than god. Why not say “right, crew needs proper rest, lets have at least 1 day off per week!” She needs to know how bad it really is! Henry you have your head up your arse! this is the worst tour ever. Promotors don’t care atoll. She needs to open her eyes and look at how miserable they look and step up and take some action. Nobody else can make the difference
i do think is her responsable for the crew and if she doesn’t want to pay 20.000 us$ for each then she should go down a little
don’t be snobs US people, the crew members have names and right to complain
they’re people that probably have difficulty to see how lucky they are as they’re working 24/7 you just think that way cose you see it from outside
The crew should just be happy their working for Madonna they also have to understand their not Madonna there’s only one Madonna and what she’s doing for herself is quite expensive. She is the most hard working member on the crew I’m not saying the other members don’t work hard but I think they should cut Madonna some slack!