Madonna admits she dated men for their bathrooms during 1980s New York struggles

Madonna has shared a candid and unusual reflection on her early years in 1980s New York City, revealing that she once dated men partly so she could use their bathrooms.

The 67-year-old pop icon opened up about her past while appearing on a game show segment for Bilt, recalling the difficult circumstances she faced before achieving global fame.

“I would date guys based on whether they had bathtubs and showers I could use,” she said, laughing in a clip shared on Instagram.

She explained that she would often assess potential partners based on where they lived and whether they had basic comforts.

“I’d be like, ‘So where do you live?’ And they’re like, ‘I live on the Upper West Side.’ And I’m like, ‘Do you have a bathtub?’ That was a big plus for me,” she said.

Madonna added that visits sometimes went beyond social calls, joking that she would bathe at their homes and even enjoy meals with their families.

“I’d go to this guy or potential boyfriend’s house and take a bath or a shower. And eat their mother’s home cooking!” she said.

The singer also reflected on the harsh realities of her early life in New York, including a frightening experience while living in an illegal apartment during winter.

She recalled using space heaters in freezing conditions before waking up surrounded by flames after an electrical fire broke out.

“I woke up surrounded by flames,” she said, adding that she was forced to escape and later stayed in a building known as the Music Building on Eighth Avenue.

Despite the hardships, Madonna said those experiences shaped her resilience during her rise to fame.

The Material Girl hitmaker, now a mother of six, also spoke about her personal preferences when it comes to people she connects with, saying she values intelligence and curiosity.

When asked about unexpected hobbies, she dismissed the idea that reading was unusual, saying, “Oh, reading! That’s not unexpected, you don’t read, I don’t speak to you.”

She also encouraged intellectual curiosity, suggesting that reading literature such as War and Peace could be an appealing quality.

Madonna’s reflections come as she continues to maintain a highly structured lifestyle, with recent reports claiming she even travels with a private chef to maintain her strict diet while on the move.

The singer’s early-life anecdotes highlight the contrast between her struggling beginnings in New York and her current status as one of the world’s most successful pop stars.