You do not get to be on a sold-out world tour at the age of 65 without establishing certain standards, and for Madonna, this means punctuality!
The beloved Queen of Pop is an undisputed champion in the music industry, exuding boss vibes in everything she does. One of the “Material Girl” hitmaker’s former backup dancers, Carrie Ann Inaba, recently reflected on working with the iconic songstress in the 90s and dropped juicy details about the 65-year-old’s strict rules.
Carrie Ann Inaba Claims Madonna Punished Late Dancers With A Hefty Fine
Inaba’s recollection of her time with Madonna occurred on Jennifer Hudson’s eponymous talk show. A snippet of the “Dancing with the Stars” judge’s appearance was shared on YouTube, capturing the TV personality raving about one of the greatest moments in her career.
At 23, the choreographer’s skills earned her a backup dancer position on the “Vogue” singer’s tour. However, the opportunity came with a strict rule to ensure everyone efficiently did their part for the Queen of Pop’s success. In Inaba’s words:
“Madonna is very successful. Back in the day, she was very strict. She gave us this one rule, which I’m so grateful she did. It was, for every minute you’re late, you have to pay her $100 out of your paycheck.”
The revelation shocked Hudson, who hilariously replied, “I ain’t going to lie, I will be broke. Cause I’m always late. Like I could do a lot of things, but I’m sorry I cannot be on time.” While the EGOT honoree lamented her inability to follow a scheduled appointment, Inaba, on the other hand, reaffirmed her gratitude for Madonna’s $100 policy.
The “In Living Color” star noted she “learned really quickly” and adapted to the Pop culture icon’s system. “I’m never late,” the dancer chimed, “I’m always early, in fact so much so that I waste half my day ’cause you know you show up so early, like too early.”
Despite the strict working environment, Inaba assured Hudson that it was the opportunity of a lifetime to serve as the “La Isla Bonita” singer’s backup dancer. Receiving the job offer at 23 from one of the 90s greatest entertainers touched the TV personality so much that she considered retiring early.
“There was like Michael [Jackson], Prince, and Madonna at the time. Right? And I was um, I got on Madonna’s tour, and I was like, ‘That’s all I need,’” the Honolulu native revealed, stating she returned to school after the tour ended. The entertainer recalled:
“I went back to school actually after that…UCLA and I started studying like World Arts and Cultures. It’s kind of amazing. I was like, ‘I’m done. I toured with Madonna, I am good. I am 23, I’m retiring.’”
Carrie Ann Inaba Kissed Madonna During Her 90s World Tour
Inaba previously reflected on dancing with the Wembley Square of Fame inductee on her 1993 Girlie Show World Tour in 2010. The choreographer told Access Hollywood that she shared multiple kisses with the songstress, an opportunity that overshadowed the shoulder-length tresses she had to chop off for the backup dancer job.
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“On that tour, when we all auditioned, [Madonna] said, ‘If you take this job you all have to shave your head,’” the media personality revealed, noting she was excited to be a “bald bold girl.” Regarding her kiss with Madonna, Inaba claimed the showstopper had been trying to make someone in the audience jealous.
“Well, there was like an orgy thing on stage, and we were doing this, and that, and it felt so good, and one night my boyfriend was in the audience, and her friend at the time was in the audience…I’m not saying whether it was a boy or girl, and they were in the audience,” the Honolulu native explained.
“And she was, I think, trying to tempt them and trying to make them jealous, so she turned around, and I just saw this tongue coming at me, and we had this full-on make-out session on stage,” Inaba recalled. The sensual moment did not sit right with the dancer’s then-lover, who criticized her for kissing Madonna.
The “Fly Girls” star reacted to his scolding by calling out the Golden Globe Award winner over the surprise kiss. In her defense, the “Hung Up” songstress claimed the moment was an act. However, Inaba fired back, saying: “If it was acting, then we would have done it every day in rehearsal.”
“If you want to kiss me, you have to come to my room and knock on my door and ask me,” the dancer allegedly reproached Madonna. Despite her complaints, Inaba shared a second kiss with the music icon on the last night of the tour when the duo played a game of truth or dare.