Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Madonna Busted Trying To Save Upper East Side Space With Fake Parking Signs
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 24, 2016
Modified Mar 24, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 24, 2016
Modified Mar 24, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Madonna, like a lot of gas-guzzling New Yorkers, has to deal with the vexing vicissitudes of owning a car in the city, and in particular, finding a place to store said car. But unlike most NYers, who choose to play by the rules and suffer loudly, Madonna took the law into her own hands and apparently put up fake parking signs in front of her Upper East Side residence.
TMZ reports that a neighbor ratted out Madonna to the city's Department of Transportation because of the fake "Tenant Parking Only" signs she erected in front of her $40 million townhouse on E. 81st Street. She also apparently had a "No Parking" warning imprinted and yellow paint painted onto the sidewalk.
Based on a Google Maps search, the fake signs and street lettering have been up since at least September 2015.
Google Maps
CBS confirms that the DOT visited Madonna's residence yesterday. The Daily News adds that the city has issued "notices to remove illegal signage and improperly placed paint."
It seems that Madonna, who is currently at the end of her Rebel Heart world tour, has royally pissed off her neighbors recently: "She feels like she owns the whole block," one neighbor told the News.
"What has angered us the very most is that when she leaves one of her staff literally walks into the street and stops cars and pedestrians from passing. This way she can leave from inside the garage and not have to deal with the public," another neighbor told the Daily Mail. "It's really quite obnoxious and we all joke that she is playing 'Bitch I'm Madonna' as her chauffeured car drives her by all of us minions waiting on the street for her to pass."
It doesn't seem as if Madonna has been given any fines yet, but even if she is, we're sure she could handle it.
Tagged
cars
madonna
parking
ues
upper east side
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 5:26 p.m. ET
Brooklyn school dean says MTA officers assaulted him over a $3 bus fare he says he paid
Kyle Taylor, a dean at Mott Bridges Academy, says he made a legal bus transfer.
By
Carol Chen
News
Brooklyn school dean says MTA officers assaulted him over a $3 bus fare he says he paid
Kyle Taylor, a dean at Mott Bridges Academy, says he made a legal bus transfer.
By
Carol Chen
National Grid customers in NYC will see higher gas bills this winter
By
Rosemary Misdary
Bruce Blakeman joins Gov. Hochul in support for expanding NY rape law
By
Jon Campbell
2 men accused of stabbing off-duty NYPD detective in the Bronx plead not guilty
By
Charles Lane
and
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .