Madonna's estranged brother has launched a scathing attack on the singer's husband Guy Ritchie, portraying him as a homophobe who destroyed his relationship with his sister.
In a candid interview on
Good Morning America
this week, Madonna's brother, Christopher Ciccone, revealed details form his tell-all book,
Life With My Sister Madonna
, and cast doubt over his famous sister's alleged infidelity.
"I think it's highly unlikely," Ciccone said during the exclusive interview, dismissing allegations that Madonna had an affair with baseball star Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod).
"Despite everything else, she's still a Catholic girl.
"I doubt this is actually an affair," he said.
"I'm sure she had nothing to do with the breakup of their (A-Rod and his wife Cynthia's) marriage. It seemed absurd to me, truly, I don't believe it."
A-Rod's wife Cynthia filed for divorce from the star last week, amid rumours that he'd grown increasingly close to the Material Girl.
Ciccone, who was once hired as Madonna's personal assistant, dresser and general dog's body, said the pair once had a close relationship, but that Guy Ritchie had caused their estrangement.
"Guy Ritchie pretty much happened to our relationship, for the most part.
"The best way to get to my sister is to get in bed with her, you know what I mean?" he said.
"And since I wasn't doing that, and ... wasn't about to, you know, that person - like I said - who speaks to her, the last person to speak to her at night, has the most influence.
"And we both couldn't really exist in the same hemisphere."
Part one of Ciccone's Good Morning America interview below.
On how Kaballahahaha has influenced his sister:
"I suppose, on some level [it has made her a better person], although I think Kabala, in many ways, has validated some of her bad behaviour. I think - you know, now it's her way or no one's way, because she's got God on her side now.
"It's again, like our relationship, a double-edged sword.
"You know, it can be very helpful, but she has a tendency to use it like a weapon, and I think that's not what they quite intended."
On how Ciccone himself got in to Kaballahahaha:
Amazingly, Ciccone said his sister "blackmailed" him into studying Kaballah.
"I had finished a house for Madonna and she owed me a final payment and, you know, she, she said, you know, if - I'll only pay you your final payment if you come to a Kabbalah class.
"And I was like, 'if this is what it takes to get paid, fine, I'll go.' And, as it turns out, it was the perfect time for me ... to take another look at myself at the time - it was 2001. And while I resented her for, for forcing me into it, I actually got some good stuff from it."
Part two of Ciccone's interview below.
Judas thinks little sis Madge will still talk to him after she's read the book.
Oh brother.
Despite their differences and impending war of words (oh come on, do you think Madge will remain tight-lipped as her sibling continues to rat her out all over town?) Ciccone wishes his sister well.
He believes Madonna will "do what's best for her family and her kids. And I think that she'll do her best to maintain the marriage and keep it going", and he "would never advocate the end of their relationship".
And now for the punch line.
Ciccone also insisted that he did not write the book out of some deep-seated hatred for his sister.
"I'm not taking revenge at all," he said.
"I'm telling what I consider to be a great tale."
Yeah, right.
Madonna's rep has declined to comment on Ciccone's new revelations. Ditto for Guy Ritchie's mouthpiece.
Click it, stick it
Proud parents Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have rejected multi-million dollar offers to publish snaps of their newborn daughter Sunday Rose, according to reports.
The pair is said to be deliberating whether to release their own snaps to the media, but if they do it'll be a freebie, says
The Sydney Morning Herald
.
A snitch says: "They don't think it's appropriate to make deals. They are still deciding how they feel about (it) - if and when they will release a photo at all. But they realise there is enormous interest from the public and they are grateful and appreciative of that.
"Nicole and Keith have been enjoying their first few days at home with their firstborn tot - Nicole is thinking about things like breastfeeding right now."
Designer babies
Jennifer Lopez is still making diva demands.
Her prized babies will never wear the same item of clothing twice, according to sources.
The Latino babe apparently insists on dressing her five-month-old sprogs Max and Emme in new designer clobber every single day.
A snitch reveals, "Jennifer was approached by a charity and asked to donate some dresses for a celebrity auction. She agreed and donated a gorgeous $10,000 frock.
"She also offered some of Max and Emme's clothes, telling organisers that she never lets them 'repeat' outfits.
"But the auction deals only in adult clothes. Jennifer told them it was a shame, as some items cost over $1,000 each."
What feud?
Mamma Mia
star Meryl Streep has finally put paid to a myth that she once verbally attacked Madonna.
Actually, that's putting it mildly. In a 1991
New York Times
article, Streep was quoted as saying she wanted to "rip her throat out" after the singer won the role of Evita, instead of her.
Streep now insist that she did not impart such a callous catcall.
"That's one of those things you can never erase from whatever it is, the internet. Why would I say that?
"I was out of the running by the time they got the musical together."
Notice how she makes no butt-kissing references to Madonna herself...
PETA hate her
Former model Elizabeth Hurley is the latest victim to be targeted by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
The petulant PETA lot has written to the pouty one and urged her not to use meat in her upcoming food range and cookery books.
PETA unleashed the bloodhounds when it learned that Liz plans to use meat in her range of low-fat organic products. Meat garnered from little piggies on her farm in Gloucestershire, England. Blah, blah...
"Just as we hope Ms Hurley would be hesitant to ship her dog off to slaughter, we hope she will pause to think before killing the pigs and other animals she is caring for on her farm. With so many healthy and delicious vegetarian options available, there's no reason for Ms Hurley - or anyone else - to betray her animal friends," say the PETA lot.
Give it a bone, guys.
Talking of PETA...
Cruella de Stone (aka Sharon Stone) has upset the PETA peeps too.
They've got the hump after learning that the loose-lipped star insisted that a tarantula be de-fanged during a scene for her 1981 flick
Deadly Blessing
.
Veteran
Airwolf
actor Ernest Borgnine claims Stone - who co-starred with him in the movie - insisted a poor tarantula have its pincers removed before she would let the cameras roll.
PETA responded with: "She chose to make a tiny insect an amputee. Perhaps she should change her name legally to 'Heart of Stone.'"
Miller 4 Wales
Sienna Miller undoubtedly has a bit of Welsh in her.
The
Alfie
star - who recently broke up with Welsh talent Rhys Ifans - says she's desperate to move to the country, but probably can't afford to just yet.
She said: "I don't think I can afford to buy somewhere in Wales right now but yes, one day that would be great. Wales is the most beautiful place on Earth. It's just gorgeous. I don't know how it's so beautiful but it does feel very different in England."
Miller, who filmed a fictional biopic of Welsh poet Dylan in Wales last year, added: "The people in Wales were just so gracious and lovely, considering they had been raped and pillaged by the English for so long. And also, the time of year - when we got there it was lambs and bluebells and it was just gorgeous. Yes, I love the Welsh."
And I love you too, darling.
Taking the Peth
Sienna Miller's former squeeze Rhys Ifans says he's definitely moved on since his split from the star.
Miller unceremoniously dumped the Welsh boy over the phone after a year of romancing.
"F*** Sienna, I'm over it," he spilled to
Sunday People
.
"There aren't any other women at the moment; I'm not ready for all of that again. I'm just having fun with my mates.
"Everyone thinks I am sad. I was, but I'm not any more. I know people have been worried about me but there is no need, honestly. I'm fine."
I think the man doth protest too much.
And, oh, look...
"I won't be going for any more wrong 'uns. I'm not settling down with anyone," he adds.
Over it? My a$.
Ifans also says he plans to split form his rock group The Peth.
What the Hef?
All is not well in
Playboy
sugar daddy Hugh Hefner's rabbit warren.
The bunnies are getting restless...
Word has it that Hef's three playbunnies aren't getting along.
Tension between Kendra and Hef's other two bunnies, Bridget and Holly, is apparently getting serious.
A snitch says: "Holly and Bridget hate her. They're totally jealous. She has her own empire now. She's got a clothing line, a modelling career and an exercise empire. They're just sitting there hangin' with Hef."
To ad insult to injury, Kendra is allegedly hopping off and dating other blokes, which is totally against hare Hef's principles.
Greedy, greedy, greedy!
Keep taking them pills...
Petulant clotheshorse Naomi Campbell insists that she's not a bad person.
"I'm not a bad person," she tells Britain's
The Mirror
.
Of the negative press she's amassed as a result of her temper tantrums, she adds: "Let them be negative - but do that away from me. It hurts but I know there is much more good in the world.
"I'm blessed to be able to do charitable work and good things but no one focuses on that because I don't throw it in people's faces. That's why they focus on the negatives."
No darling, it's because you continue to toss mobile phones and bad attitude in people's faces.
Get back in your box.
Fast gossip
If it's celebrity sin, it's in...
Celine Dion
hoses down:
Cameron Diaz
: same thing, different day:
Courtney Love
is still blogging
Slash
has hideous hair:
Miss USA
takes a stumble, eats stage:
Amy Winehouse
smokes and drinks her way to hell:
Jessica Simpson
: "Y'all buy my new perfume!"
Janice Dickinson
is a plastic surgery nightmare:
Enough with the stripping,
Miley Cyrus
:
A-Rod
's fans extract the urine:
High School Musical 3
trailer:
Paris Hilton
is a little b:
Unheard
John Lennon
interview found:
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Opinion: 'Her monologue was a blast – a salty and irreverent onslaught.'