controversial celebrity News

Madonna - Upcoming European Tour

Madonna commissioned a stage and set to be built in Marseilles at the 60,000 seat Stade Velodrome for the European leg of her current Sticky and Sweet tour. The set was a massive structure that employed the use of cranes and major industrial equipment. During the erection of the set two workers were seriously injured and later died when a portion of the roof became unbalanced and collapsed while it was being lifted into place which caused one of the cranes to fall onto the stage where the men were working. According to MTV an even greater tragedy was averted because the vibration and noise from the collapsing roof alerted fifty other workers that the structure was about the cave in and they were able to safely escape.

One man, Charles Criscenzo, 53-year-old French laborer, was killed instantly and a second man, 23-year-old Charles Prow, a British technician died the night after the incident from the injuries that he sustained.  Eight other individuals were injured, and are currently in critical, but stable condition. The identities of the injured men have not been released, but the authorities did disclose that the group was made up of seven Frenchmen and one American.

Fox News reported that French prosecutors have begun a manslaughter investigation into the incident to determine if there is a negligent party that is responsible for the workmen’s death and the injuries of those who survived. The French authorities are wasting no time getting the proceedings underway and are scheduled to begin the initial case either Sunday, July 19, 2009 or Monday, July 20, 2009.

Madonna cancelled the show at the Stade Velodrome out of respect for the families of the deceased and according to VIPFlux the 40,000 tickets sold will be refunded. According to CNN, Madonna released a statement saying, “I am devastated to have just received this tragic news. My prayers go out to those who were injured and their families along with my deepest sympathy to all those affected by this heartbreaking news.” Madonna has also been expressing sympathy for the workmen’s families during other venues of Sticky and Sweet. According to SlashGossip.com, Madonna paid a tribute to the workers during her show in Udine, Italy. During the Italian tribute she paused an asked the audience to take a moment of silence and pray for the victim’s and their families.