Madonna's brother facing homeless winter

Published: Oct. 22, 2011 at 12:05 PM

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Oct. 22 (UPI) -- With winter closing in, Madonna's big brother discussed being homeless in a northern Michigan ski town.

Anthony Ciccone, 55, told The Michigan Messenger he spent last winter living under a bridge in Traverse City, battling frostbite while holed up under a bridge and relying on the kindness of churches and charities.

"My family turned their back on me, basically, when I was having a hard time," he said. "You think I haven't answered this kind of question a bazillion times -- why my sister is a multibazillionarie, and I'm homeless on the street?"

The Hollywood Reporter said the question was the only reference Ciccone made about his superstar kid sister.

Ciccone was working at the family winery in Suttons Bay until he was laid off about 1 1/2 years ago. Last winter was particularly tough, said Ciccone, who claimed to have known people who lost toes or even died of hypothermia.