by Venus Sanders
Image Credit: Jacopo Raule | Getty Images
Two New York City residents, Michael Fellows from Brooklyn and Jonathan Hadden from the Bronx, have initiated legal action against pop icon Madonna, Live Nation, and Barclays Center, alleging that the late start of her "Celebration Tour" concert on December 13 inconvenienced them due to their early morning commitments.
The lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn federal court, claims that although the tickets indicated an 8:30 p.m. start time, Madonna did not begin her performance until after 10:45 p.m. This delayed schedule allegedly led to challenges in accessing public transportation, ride-sharing options, and increased transportation costs when the concert concluded at 1 a.m.
Fellows and Hadden assert that Madonna's tardiness disrupted their work and family responsibilities as they had to rise early the next day. The lawsuit alleges "unconscionable, unfair, and/or deceptive trade practices" against Madonna, Live Nation, and Barclays Center for promoting concerts with specified start times while being aware that the artist would not commence performing at the advertised hour.
The legal action contends that Madonna's track record of consistently late arrivals at prior concerts, both in New York and other cities like Washington, D.C., and Boston, should have alerted the plaintiffs and other concertgoers to the likelihood of delayed start times.
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The legal complaint, which aims for class action status, implies that the alleged tardiness issue was not exclusive to the December 13 concert but may have affected other shows on the "Celebration Tour." The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for the inconvenience and challenges faced by the plaintiffs and potentially other class members.
In detailing the rationale behind the legal action, the lawsuit emphasizes Madonna's historical difficulty in ensuring timely or complete performances and asserts that any statement regarding the start time constituted, at best, optimistic speculation. The plaintiffs argue that the defendants were fully aware of Madonna's tendency to start concerts late based on her extensive history of such behavior.
While the specific damages sought are not specified, the legal complaint raises broader concerns about the fairness and transparency of concert promotions, particularly in instances where there is a recurring pattern of delayed performances. The lawsuit contends that consumers have the right to expect performances to adhere to the advertised schedules, and any deviation from such expectations should be clearly communicated to prevent potential inconveniences.