LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) – Madonna is facing a new lawsuit over her Celebration Tour, with accusations of false advertising and unwanted exposure to sexual content. Justen Lipeles, who attended the March 7 concert at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, has filed a class action suit against the pop icon, alleging breach of written contract, negligent misrepresentation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false advertising, negligence, and unfair competition.
The lawsuit claims that Lipeles was “forced to watch topless women on stage simulating sex acts,” likening the experience to watching a pornographic film. Legal documents obtained by The Guardian and The Blast also allege that Madonna lip-synced and ordered the venue’s air conditioning to be shut off, causing Lipeles to feel ill from the heat.
“The temperature inside the Kia Forum was uncomfortably hot as required by Madonna, who refused to allow the air conditioning to be turned on,” the suit states. “Further, during most of the performance, it was apparent to plaintiff that Madonna was lip-syncing.”
Lipeles also echoed complaints from other fans about Madonna’s alleged delay, noting that the concert, advertised to start at 8:30 PM, did not begin until 10 PM. The suit criticizes Madonna for “forcing consumers to wait hours in hot, uncomfortable arenas and subjecting them to pornography without warning,” claiming it demonstrates her “flippant disrespect for her fans.”
The lawsuit also names Live Nation (LN) as a defendant. Neither Madonna nor LN have commented on the lawsuit.
This isn’t the first time Madonna has faced legal action from fans. Earlier this year, fans in Washington D.C. filed a lawsuit against her for late appearances at her December 2023 concerts at the Capital One Arena, citing similar grievances about waiting in uncomfortable conditions. A similar suit was filed by fans attending her shows at New York’s Barclays Center in December.
Despite these controversies, Madonna’s 80-date Celebration Tour was a financial success, generating $227.2 million from 1.1 million ticket sales. The tour, from October 2023 to May 2024, concluded with a record-breaking free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, attended by an estimated 1.6 million people. Over her career, Madonna has grossed $1.61 billion from her 12 tours, selling over 12.6 million tickets across 650 shows.
