TRAVERSE CITY -- News that Madonna's brother, Anthony Ciccone, is homeless and living under a bridge in Traverse City is making headlines around the world.

Anthony Ciccone has spoken out about his drug issues in the past and many people in the community have known of the situation of Ciccone being homeless. A recent interview published in the Michigan Messenger is now spreading like wildfire. "My family turned their back on me, basically, when I was having a hard time," Ciccone told the Messenger. "You think I haven't answered this kind of question a bazillion times — why my sister is a multibazillionaire, and I'm homeless on the street? Never say never. This could happen to anybody."

Hundreds of articles from news agencies to entertainment websites are all questioning how a family with so many resources could turn their backs on Ciccone. The Inside Edition is even posting an online poll "Should Madonna help her homeless brother?"

What the articles do not discuss is the background of Ciccone's drug use, treatment facility stays, and repeated help from Madonna and her family to treat addiction problems. UpNorthLive spoke with a close family friend and employee of Ciccone Vineyard about the media attention.

"He has had multiple opportunities and we have done so many things and committed so many resources to get him help. We've done so much over the past 15 years and attempted to help him but he has done nothing to help himself. There is nothing more we or anyone else can do. He is where he is because of himself," explained the family friend. "He has had more help than 95 percent of the people out there, there is nothing more we can do." The family friend went on to say, "Anthony will take this media attention as far as he can."

Many members of the Ciccone family joined Madonna and her daughter Lourdes during the 2008 Traverse City Film Festival. Madonna released her documentary "I Am Because We Are" about Malawi Africa during the festival.Video of the event is featured above.

http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=678180

What do you think about this story? Please leave your comments below.

Makes sense. I see through his efforts.

There's always two sides of a story...

Watch everyone ignore this and believe the brother.

I'm disgusted at a lot of the people on here who are so quickly to condemn her without considering the other side of the story. Some people just don't use their brains.

True.

It would appear they've tried to help him in the past. I don't like the way that he speaks about his sister, as if he's entitled to some sort of affluent lifestyle because his sister is loaded and enjoys the finer things. He doesn't say it outright, but it seems to me that this dude expects some sort of handout from Madonna simply because she's a multibazillionaire. Madonna could certainly spare the sort of cash necessary to get this guy out of debt and off the streets, but she shouldn't be held accountable for someone who, if my suspicions are correct, wants the easy way out and isn't looking to do any sort of self-improvement.

Madonna is always right.

Wouldn't be surprised

i think basically, if they give him money, he will drug himself to awful consequences, and they do not want to have this responsability

What a mess. Of course at first I was like "help the guy out, you're a 'bazillionaire'!" But then I read the part about them trying to help him for 15 years. He needs help but he's just looking for pity and a poor soul to help him, just so that he can take advantage of them and land right back up where he is now.

He probably doesnt even want help, just money

Sounds true, the brother just wants attention.

I would pretty much do the same thing. If I tried to help a sibling or anyone and I was rich and they continued to screw up I would set them out on there own.

TOLD YA!

Well, waiting for some on here to shade Madge and stick up for him regardless.
Madonna and her family can spend all their money on getting him jobs, getting him into rehab... but if he doesn't give a damn... what's the use?

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