Madonna loses attempt to stop auction of intimate items, including love letters

Madonna has failed to stop an auction of intimate items, including a break-up letter from rapper Tupac Shakur. A judge ruled that the Material Girl had directed her legal action against the wrong target in going after Darlene Lutz, a New York art dealer who helped Madonna build a collection before falling out with her. Lutz had been the main source for 22 items, including love letters, cassettes and a hairbrush, offered by auction house Gotta Have Rock and Roll until a judge issued an injunction in July. New York judge Gerald Lebovits agreed with Lutz, who said that her disputes with Madonna were settled by a 2004 legal agreement between the former friends. The auction house said it would press ahead in July with the sale of the merchandise including the letter from Tupac. Gotta Have Rock and Roll said it had done “substantial due diligence” before announcing the auction. The lots – part of a collection of about 100 pieces – included the 1995 letter from Tupac, who would be shot dead a year later. Madonna has only recently spoken publicly about their relationship. In the letter breaking up with Madonna, Tupac said his image would suffer by dating a white woman and voiced pain at an interview in which the singer said, “I’m off to rehabilitate all the rappers and basketball players”. Madonna, in winning a temporary block of the auction in July, told the court that her celebrity status “does not obviate my right to maintain my privacy, including with regard to highly personal items.”