Madonna’s family take back estranged brother who has been living on the streets for seven years
The star's brother has been recovering in a rehab facility after living rough on the streets of Michigan for more than seven years.
MADONNA’S brother Anthony Ciccone has returned to his family home after seven years of living on the streets.
The 61-year-old has an ongoing battle with alcoholism, and had been sleeping rough in Michigan, with bitter temperatures low enough to potentially kill him.
His sister had repeatedly offered to help him, but he dismissed her as “not caring” and therefore never accepted.
“I’m a zero in their eyes – a non-person. I’m an embarrassment,” he said in a 2011 interview.
“If I froze to death, my family probably wouldn’t know or care about it for six months.”
“My father would be very happy if I died of hypothermia,” he added. “Then he wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore. He’s old school, he grew up in the depression.”
Anthony’s spiral into addiction has included being fired from the family vineyard after he was seen sprawled on the floor drinking wine directly from the vats.
However, after years of the family reaching out and trying to aid him, he’s finally accepted after a stint in a rehab facility started bringing him back to better health.
Christopher Ciccone, Madonna’s younger brother, confirmed that Anthony is now with his family, and without giving details said he was “back home and recovering”.
He has been spending time at Dann’s House in Michigan, a revolutionary treatment that allows recovering alcoholics to drink during their stay.
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It is their belief that with the right care and attention, alcoholics can then be discouraged to drink over a period of time.
Anthony has been a frequent visitor of the centre since 2014.
Karen McCarthy, the founder of the facility, confirmed Anthony's stay, telling : “Anthony loved it at Dann's House for quite a while, and made significant improvements in his life while he was with us.
“Dann's House does good work with people who are vulnerable. We've seen tremendous, positive results.”
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