Madonna is probably singing the praises of a Manhattan judge — who stopped an auction of her “highly personal items” including a pair of worn panties, a love letter from her former boyfriend, the late rapper Tupac Shakur, and a hairbrush containing her precious locks.
Manhattan Supreme Court Gerald Leibovitz ordered the New York-based Gotta Have It! Collectibles to yank 22 items from a special, rock and roll-themed auction scheduled for July 19.
In her emergency suit, Madonna says she’s disgusted that a fan could own a piece of her.
“I understand that my DNA could be extracted form a piece of my hair. It is outrageous and grossly offensive that my DNA could be auctioned for sale to the general public,” her Madgesty fumed in court papers.
“I was shocked to learn of the planned auctioning of the Shakur letter, as I had no idea that the Shakur letter was no longer in my possession,” she added in the suit.
The Shakur letter was expected to fetch up to $400,000, according to court papers.
Judge Leibovitz also ordered the auctioneer to remove the letter and other personal items from Gotta Have It’s website.
The Material Girl says a “former friend,” is behind the sale of her property.
Manhattan art consultant Darlene Lutz, 62, “would have had access to these items on numerous occasions” including as a “frequent overnight guest” in her homes when she was “not in residence,” the suit says.
Other items on the block include personal photographs, unreleased sound recordings and unsent, “intimate love letters” involving other past boyfriends including John Enos and Peter Shue.
“The fact that I have attained celebrity status as a result of success in my career does not obviate my right to maintain my privacy, including with regard to highly personal items,” Madonna, 58, says in court papers.
A spokesman for the auction house and the singer’s ex-pal said, “Madonna and her legal army have taken what we believe to be a completely baseless and meritless action to temporarily halt the sale of Ms Lutz’s legal property.”
The spokesman, Pete Siegel, added, “Madonna’s allegations will be vigorously challenged and refuted in a court of law in due course. We are confident that the Madonna memorabilia will be back.”
A hearing is scheduled for early September.