"I'm glad he's not suffering anymore." Madonna's younger brother dies at 63

Singer Madonna's brother Christopher Ciccone has died at the age of 63 after a long battle with cancer. The star has published archive photos and commented on the death of her relative, with whom she had a tense relationship for many years, noting that she did everything she could for him.

"My brother Christopher is gone. He was the closest person to me for so long. It's hard to explain our bond. But it grew out of the understanding that we are different and that society will treat us harshly for not following the status quo," Madonna wrote.

In the post, the singer recalled that her brother had been by her side since the beginning of her career. They had been dancing together since childhood, and when Madonna decided to move to New York, Christopher followed her. He performed with her as a backup dancer, then was the creative director of several tours, and later became an artist and interior designer.

"We devoured art, music and cinema like hungry animals. We were in the middle of it all. We danced in the madness of the AIDS epidemic. We went to funerals, cried and danced. We challenged the Roman Catholic Church, the police, the moral majority and all the authorities that stood in the way of artistic freedom! My brother was by my side. He had impeccable taste. And a sharp tongue that he sometimes used against me, but I always forgave him," Madonna added.

Relations between Christopher Ciccone and Madonna deteriorated in the early 2000s. The singer refused to let her brother direct her next tour. In 2008, Christopher released a book called "Life with My Sister Madonna," in which he made numerous accusations against her. The singer did not read the book, but was upset that he wanted to make money off her name. The star noted that Christopher's illness helped them reconcile.

"When my brother got sick. We found our way to each other. I did everything I could to make him live as long as possible. At the end, he was in a lot of pain. We held hands again, closed our eyes and danced. Together. I'm glad he's not suffering anymore. There won't be anyone like him again."

Madonna and her brother Christopher were born and raised in a small town in Michigan. There were four more siblings in the family. The singer's older brother, Anthony Ciccone, died last February at the age of 67. At the end of September this year, the singer's stepmother, 81-year-old Joan Ciccone, passed away.

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