Before Madonna was Madonna, she was a child growing up in Michigan with seven siblings. One of them was an older brother named Anthony Gerard Ciccone.

Anthony struggled with alcohol abuse for many years, and that caused him to have a strained relationship with the rest of his family. A source told Page Six, “Madonna helped to support her brother when he would accept that support.”

Reportedly, Anthony was homeless and, at one point, lived under a bridge in Michigan. In 2011, he told the Daily Mail that he and Madonna had “never loved each other.” He said that his family considered him “a zero.”

In recent months, Anthony did not accept Madonna’s support. He refused to go to rehab. Now, the news has been confirmed that Anthony has died. He was 66 years old.

Joe Henry, a musician who is married to Madonna’s sister, Melanie Ciccone, shared the sad news of his brother-in-law’s passing on Instagram. He wrote, “My brother-in-law, Anthony Gerard Ciccone, exited this earthly plane last evening.”

Then, Joe continued by reminiscing about Anthony’s life. He shared, “I’ve known him since I was 15, in the spring of our lives in Michigan so many years now gone.”

Joe added that Anthony’s brother, Dave Henry, remembers Anthony as “a complex character; and god knows: we tangled in moments, as true brothers can. But I loved him, and understood him better than I was sometimes willing to let on. But trouble fades; and family remains— with hands reached across the table. Farewell, then, brother Anthony.”

Joe ended his post by explaining that he imagines Anthony reuniting with his mother, Madonna Ciccone, who died at the age of 33 due to breast cancer. He wrote, “I want to think the god your blessed mother (and mine) believed in has her there, waiting to receive you. At least for today, no one shall dissuade me from this vision.”

 

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Rest in peace.