Madonna, the Queen of Pop, has celebrated her illustrious career with her fans on her latest tour, aptly named “Celebration”. The tour, which kicked off in January 2024, features a mix of her classic hits, new songs, and some special guests and surprises.
During the tour, a surprising moment occurred on Saturday night. Madonna invited Terri Joe, a viral TikTok star and former dancer, to join her on stage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Terri Joe, also known as Teresa Josephine, gained fame on TikTok. She shares videos of herself dancing and singing to songs. Terri Joe dresses in white with a cross necklace and a blonde wig. She says she’s a devout Christian from a small Louisiana town. In her videos, she talks about repentance and salvation.
However, Terri Joe is not who she seems to be. She’s a parody persona Madonna made to mock critics. Madonna shared a secret about Terri Joe on Instagram. In February, she confessed to filming TikTok videos secretly. It happened in her dressing room during the tour.
The video also showed that Terri Joe was a character that Madonna had played in her 1990 Blond Ambition Tour, where she performed a controversial rendition of “Like a Prayer” with a group of dancers dressed as nuns and priests. One of those dancers was Terri Joe, who had a solo spot where she danced with a crucifix and a bottle of poppers, a recreational drug that produces a brief euphoric sensation.
Madonna chose to bring back Terri Joe for her Celebration Tour. It’s a tribute to her past and a fun way to engage with her fans. She asked Carlton Wilborn, the original Terri Joe dancer, to join her on stage for a surprise performance.
The performance, which took place during the show’s encore, was a spectacle. Madonna and Terri Joe appeared on stage wearing matching white dresses, crosses, and blonde wigs and performed a medley of “Like a Prayer,” “Express Yourself,” and “Vogue.” They also recreated the infamous poppers moment, where they both sniffed the drug and pretended to faint on stage before getting up and continuing the dance.
The crowd erupted in wild excitement and thunderous applause as Madonna and Terri Joe reunited on stage. Many fans took to social media to express their admiration and appreciation for the iconic duo, calling them “queens,” “legends,” and “icons.” Some also praised Madonna for her creativity and humor and for bringing back one of her career’s most memorable and controversial moments.
However, not everyone was impressed by the performance. Some critics and commentators accused Madonna of being insensitive and disrespectful to the Christian faith and of promoting drug use and immorality. They also questioned Terri Joe’s relevance and necessity and suggested that Madonna was trying to relive her glory days and stay in the spotlight.
Madonna, however, seemed unfazed by the criticism and responded with a defiant and cheeky message on her Instagram account. She posted a photo of herself and Terri Joe holding hands and smiling, with the caption:
“God loves us all, even the sinners. Especially the sinners. #celebration #terrijoe #poppers #blessed”.
The Celebration Tour runs until June 2024. It’ll hit cities like New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo. Madonna plans more surprises and special guests for her fans. She’s honoring her fantastic career with her loyal followers.
