Details from an upcoming book shed new light on Madonna and Sean Penn's tumultuous relationship, including an alleged confrontation where Penn spat on photographer Ken Regan.
Insight Editions is set to release "Madonna: Into the Groove: An Intimate Portrait of the Queen of Pop" on October 27. The book features work by photographer Ken Regan and text by Tomás Mier, documenting a pivotal year in Madonna's rise to global stardom.
A passage from the book describes an incident where Penn allegedly confronted Regan at the Live Aid benefit concert in Philadelphia. Regan's assistant, Craig Blankenhorn, recounted that Penn and Madonna approached Regan about a photograph of Madonna sold to Penthouse magazine. Penthouse had published nude photos of Madonna in 1985, which were originally taken in 1978 when she was an unknown art model and were acquired without her approval.
Blankenhorn recalled that while Madonna and Regan were speaking, Penn became agitated and began spitting on Regan and his camera equipment. "Sean started spitting on Ken and the photo equipment. I had to mop things up, which I wasn't happy about," Blankenhorn stated. He added that he had to verbally confront Penn and mentioned being physically larger and unafraid of the actor.
Regan himself recalled a "bit of a scuffle" but noted the confrontation ended there. The book also includes images from Regan's 1985 sessions with Madonna, during which she was on her "Virgin Tour," performed at Live Aid, and starred in the film "Desperately Seeking Susan."
Author Tomás Mier described Regan's photos of Madonna in 1985 as a "time travel" experience, capturing the singer at a critical juncture in her career and in music history. "1985 was the exact moment Madonna transformed from a rising pop star into a cultural phenomenon," Mier said. "Madonna was and continues the ultimate pop queen blueprint — 1985 is simply when the world finally caught on."
Penn and Madonna married in November 1985, shortly after the incident described. Their marriage lasted four years, ending in divorce in 1989. The book's release comes amid new lyrical content from Madonna on her album "Confessions 2," which includes references to a "movie star with deep blue eyes" and lyrics suggesting an ex-husband was "threatened by her" fame.
Madonna has previously expressed regret over both of her marriages, including her union with Penn. However, she has also spoken with warmth about Penn in later years, including a public declaration of love at a 2016 charity gala for his Haiti relief work. Despite past reports of domestic disputes, both Madonna and Penn have consistently denied allegations of physical abuse, with Madonna even testifying on Penn's behalf in a defamation case concerning these claims.