CELEBRITY

He Is Because She Is: The Incredible Conceit of Madge's Disappointment In Her Brother

By Crabby Golightly

AFTER A LIFETIME SPENT HAWKING EVERYTHING YOU OWN FOR PUBLICITY -- NUDE PICTURES, SEX SECRETS, AFFAIRS OF THE HEART -- YOU CAN BET THAT MADONNA'S BROTHER PICKED UP A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO SELL.

So it seems a bit disingenuous that Madonna's spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg confesses that her client finds it "very upsetting" that her big brother "has decided to sell a book based on his sister."

WTF? This fact seems to speak to me more volumes than any of the nuggets of gossip that have found their way from book to print. As New York mag puts it, "The general sentiment is that the book will reveal that 1) Madonna's marriage is struggling, 2) Madonna is a cutthroat businessperson, 3) Madonna cares only about herself, and 4) Madonna is kind of a bitch. To which we say: "Um, yeah?" EVERYONE ALREADY KNOWS THAT."

There will be no truths revealed that we do not already know. But Christopher Ciccone adds a power aid to his juice, and why not? He is an eyewitness to the publicity machinations of a media machine, and he more than most knows that it's all a game.

Now as the book gets released today, the headlines' frame it as Madonna being "betrayed." Here's what I call him: smart opportunist. Why shouldn't he be allowed to play the game he's witnessed so well?