Fans sue Madonna in court for starting concert late
Listen to the story (Irish accent)
Two fans of the famous singer Madonna are suing her because she started her concert in New York more than two hours late.
The fans, Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadde, went to her concert on December 13, 2023. It was scheduled to start at 8:30 PM, but it didn’t start until after 10:30 PM. It ended at around 1:00 AM.
Fellows and Hadden, claim they wouldn’t have bought the tickets if they had known the late ending time. They also say that many people who went to the concert on a weekday had to wake up early the next day for work or to take care of their families.
They are suing the concert promoter Live Nation and the venue, the Barclays Center, for false advertising. Additionally, the lawsuit says that the concerts on December 14 and 15 also started more than two hours late.
The lawsuit claims that the concert promoter and the venue didn’t tell fans that the concerts would start very late. Fans had to wait for hours.
Madonna has a history of starting her concerts late, sometimes several hours late. It’s also not the first time fans have complained. Another fan sued her in 2019 for the same reason.
That year, Madonna told fans at a concert, “A queen is never late.”
Madonna’s sold-out Celebration tour is a concert of her greatest hits. It celebrates the 40th anniversary of her first popular song, Holiday.
The tour includes venues in the US, Canada, and Europe.
Vocabulary25 words
- Fan
- a person who likes a sport, team, or celebrity; supporter; follower
- Famous
- Many people know it; Well-known or admired by many people
- Sue
- To take legal action against someone for doing something wrong or causing harm; to fight someone in a court of law; file a lawsuit against someone; When someone takes another person to court to solve a problem
- Concert
- A live show where musicians play music
- Scheduled
- planned or arranged for a specific time; to have a schedule for
- Claim
- a statement; to say something, usually without proof or evidence; allegation; suggestion
- Ending time
- The time when something finishes or ends;
- Weekday
- Any day from Monday to Friday
- Take care of
- To look after someone or something to make sure they are safe and healthy; to help someone or something stay alive
- Promoter
- A person who helps make an event happen; Someone who helps organize and advertise events like concerts
- Venue
- an event location; the place an event is held
- False advertising
- When a company lies about what it’s selling;
- Additionally
- also; moreover; in addition; furthermore; plus
- Lawsuit
- a complaint or disagreement that you bring to a court
- History
- something that has been done or experienced by a particular person or thing repeatedly over a long period
- Several
- some; more than 2, but not many
- Complain
- to say you’re not happy or you don’t like something
- Reason
- Why something happens; an explanation for something
- Queen
- A woman who rules a country ?
- Sold-out
- When all the tickets to an event have been bought
- Tour
- A series of performances or visits to different places (e.g., concert tour)
- Greatest hits
- The most popular songs by a singer or band
- Celebrate
- to mark or remember an important event, especially with enjoyable activities
- Anniversary
- a special date or day that marks a particular event or occasion, like a wedding or the founding of a company
- Include
- to contain; incorporate; to be part of; to have something smaller as a part of it; come with
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Two fans of the _____ singer Madonna are suing her because she started her concert in New York _____ than two hours late.
The _____, Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadde, went to her concert on December 13, _____. It was scheduled to start at 8:30 PM, but it didn’t start until after _____ PM. It ended at around 1:00 AM.
Fellows and Hadden, _____ they wouldn’t have bought the tickets if they had known the late ending _____. They also say that many people who _____ to the concert on a weekday had to wake up early the next day for _____ or to take care of their families.
They are suing the _____ promoter Live Nation and the venue, the Barclays Center, for false _____. Additionally, the lawsuit says that the _____ on December 14 and 15 also started more than two hours _____.
The lawsuit claims that the concert _____ and the venue didn’t tell fans that the concerts _____ start very late. Fans had to wait for hours.
_____ has a history of starting her concerts late, sometimes _____ hours late. It’s also not the first time fans have complained. Another fan _____ her in 2019 for the same reason.
That _____, Madonna told fans at a concert, “A _____ is never late.”
Madonna’s sold-out Celebration _____ is a concert of her greatest hits. It celebrates the 40th anniversary of her first _____ song, Holiday.
The tour includes _____ in the US, Canada, and Europe.
Discussion questions
- How would you feel if a concert you attended started more than two hours late?
- Do you think it's fair for fans to sue a singer if a concert starts late? Why or why not?
- How should Madonna or the concert organizers apologize to the fans? Should fans get a refund?
- Do you agree with Madonna's statement, "A queen is never late"? Why or why not?
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