Madonna Dated for Bathtubs and Home Cooked Meals
Madonna is looking back on her early years in New York City with a humorous confession about what she valued most in a potential boyfriend during her rise to fame in the 1980s. The 67 year old pop icon revealed that access to a clean bathroom and a hot meal sometimes played a bigger role in her dating decisions than romance itself.
During a June 1 appearance on the game show Rent Free, hosted by Bilt CEO Ankur Jain, Madonna laughed as she recalled navigating New York City’s competitive housing landscape while trying to establish herself as an artist.
A Practical Dating Strategy
Madonna explained that when meeting potential suitors, one of her first questions was not about their interests or career ambitions, but rather where they lived and whether they had a bathtub. “I would date guys based on whether they had bathtubs and showers I could use,” she said while laughing.
The singer described how difficult living conditions could be for young people trying to make it in New York at the time. As a struggling artist building her career, having access to a comfortable place to freshen up became a surprisingly valuable perk. According to Madonna, learning that a potential date had a bathtub immediately made them more appealing.
More Than Just a Shower
The bathroom benefits were only part of the arrangement. Madonna joked that she would often visit a potential boyfriend’s home to enjoy amenities she may not have had easy access to herself. Along with taking a bath or shower, she revealed another incentive that made certain dates especially attractive.
“I’d go to this guy or potential boyfriend’s house and take a bath or a shower,” she recalled. “And eat their mother’s home cooking.” The comments were delivered with plenty of laughter, highlighting the lighthearted nature of the story and offering a glimpse into the realities of life before she became one of the world’s biggest stars.
From Struggling Artist to Global Superstar
Before becoming the “Queen of Pop,” Madonna moved to New York City in the late 1970s with little money and a dream of pursuing a career in dance and entertainment. She has frequently spoken about the hardships she faced during those early years, including living in modest apartments and working odd jobs while trying to establish herself. Those experiences would eventually shape the determination that helped launch a career spanning more than four decades.
Since releasing her self titled debut album in 1983, Madonna has become one of the best selling music artists in history, earning numerous awards and influencing generations of performers. Her catalog includes hits such as Like a Virgin, Material Girl, Vogue, Like a Prayer, and Hung Up.
A Humorous Look Back
While the revelation drew laughs from fans, it also offered a relatable reminder of the challenges many young adults face when living in expensive cities. For Madonna, practical necessities like a bathtub and a home cooked meal sometimes carried more weight than traditional dating criteria.
The story adds another colorful chapter to the singer’s long history of sharing candid anecdotes about her life before fame, proving that even future superstars occasionally make decisions based on simple comforts.
