What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
No available reporting establishes that Sean Penn held Madonna captive. A criminal complaint against Penn was reported in 1988, but Madonna later asked that charges not be filed. In a 2015 court declaration, she denied that Penn had struck or tied her up. The complaint and the later denial are distinct pieces of evidence; neither supports presenting the specific “held captive” claim as a proven fact.
What was reported about the 1988 complaint?
Madonna and Penn were married in the 1980s. A contemporaneous UPI report published on January 10, 1989, said Madonna had filed a criminal complaint against Penn in late December 1988 and later asked prosecutors not to file charges. UPI’s archive report is evidence that a complaint was reported and that she made that request; it does not establish every detail later attached to the story. The Guardian’s 2015 account said she withdrew the complaint about a week after filing it. The Guardian’s account provides that later chronology.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Immaculate Collection | $8.05 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Madonna - The Complete Studio Albums 1983 - 2008 | $29.33 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![The Immaculate Collection [CD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pZDnG-1cL._SL160_.jpg)
|
The Immaculate Collection [CD] | $16.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
The Essential 1980's - Madonna - CD Collection: Madonna (Self-Titled) / Like A Virgin / True Blue | $39.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Madonna | $9.03 | Buy on Amazon |
What did Madonna say about being struck or tied up?
In 2015, Madonna submitted a declaration in support of Penn in his defamation lawsuit against Lee Daniels. She stated: “Sean has never struck me, ‘tied me up,’ or physically assaulted me.” She also rejected reports about an alleged incident associated with the complaint. NBC News reported on the declaration.
That statement is Madonna’s account in a court filing, not a court finding about what happened during the marriage. Its context matters: Penn had sued Daniels after Daniels compared him with Terrence Howard while discussing domestic-violence allegations. The Hollywood Reporter covered the filing and lawsuit. The declaration is a direct denial of the “struck” and “tied up” claims, but it should be attributed to Madonna rather than recast as a judicial determination.
#1 Best Overall
Is the baseball-bat story the same incident?
No. Later accounts have also circulated a separate allegation about a 1987 baseball-bat incident. Madonna specifically denied that reported incident in her 2015 declaration. NBC News’s report discusses that denial. It should not be merged with the late-1988 complaint or treated as proof that Madonna was held captive.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should later retellings be read?
Later reporting has noted that the 1991 book Madonna: Unauthorized featured in the history of the allegations’ circulation. A 2015 Daily Beast account discusses that history. The book’s contents and reliability are not established by that mention, so its role in circulating claims is not independent verification of them.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Rank #3
Rank #2
What can be concluded?
- A criminal complaint against Penn was reported in 1989, and coverage said Madonna later asked prosecutors not to pursue charges or withdrew the complaint.
- In a 2015 court declaration, Madonna denied that Penn had struck or tied her up.
- The available reporting does not verify the specific details needed to state that Penn held Madonna captive as an established fact.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
