'That’s a shame': Fans slam Madonna as she brings Kelly Ripa on stage while overlooking longtime backup singers Niki and Donna

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Fans expressed dissatisfaction when Madonna ignored two of her dearest collaborators—who were sitting in the front row at her Madison Square Garden 'Celebration' tour—in preference for Kelly Ripa.

The 65-year-old 'Material Girl' singer appeared to ignore her two former backing vocalists, Niki Haris and Donna De Lory, at her Madison Square Garden performance on Monday, January 29, following their hinted reunion.

Not only did Madonna ignore her former pals during the high-profile concert in the Big Apple, but she also called Ripa, 53, to the stage instead, which made fans whisper that the three of them would be getting back together, per Radar Online.

Kelly Ripa and Madonna showcased racy 'vogue' performance on 'Celebration' tour

Kelly Ripa was the most recent celebrity asked to assess Madonna's backup dancer's vogue at a Madison Square Garden part of her 'Celebration' tour on Monday, January 29.

During the raucous interval, the 'Live! With Kelly and Mark' host was seen frantically running to join the Queen of Pop onstage and waving a No 10 scorecard.

The daytime talk show host, dressed in a black satin pantsuit and a fuzzy purple belt, was seen hugging Madonna in a video posted to X (previously Twitter).

Madonna complimented her unexpected guest with a sparkling high heel and a stunning silver-and-black corset.

The 'Like a Virgin' singer then hugged Ripa and immediately took a picture before concluding her popular song. Madonna and Ripa had previously crossed paths.

In 2003, the singer made an appearance on 'Live With Regis and Kelly,' while Ripa was able to take a picture of the 'Material Girl' as she was holding the talk show host's kid, Joaquin.

Madonna's daughter Estere also competed in the Madison Square Garden show, hosted by past winner of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Bob the Drag Queen, per the New York Post.

Madonna ignored longtime backup singers Niki + Donna at Madison Square Garden show

Madonna collaborated with singers Niki Haris and Donna De Lory from 1987 until 2001. They were featured in the 1990 music video for the song 'Vogue' and the 1991 documentary 'Truth or Dare.'

However, they didn't seem to be passed over for a more popular face in the crowd—Kelly Ripa—for Madonna's 40th anniversary 'Celebration' tour at the Garden, which nearly failed due to the singer's terrifying health emergency in 2023.

Currently touring as Niki + Donna, the duo has scheduled two gigs in New York earlier at the neighboring Green Room 42. As a result of their performances, loyal fans and Billboard began to conjecture about a reunion for Madonna's 40th anniversary tour at the Garden, per Page Six.

A week before Madonna's performance, Niki and Donna were asked about an on-stage reunion on 'The Billboard Pop Shop' podcast. Harris responded, "I have no right to give any information that is not completely confirmed as of this moment."

"With that said, we take joy wherever we can find it – if it’s on our stage, at Madison Square Garden, wherever the joy is. In [Madonna’s] living room…. The bottom line is, we’re in town," she continued.

During a meet and greet at their event, De Lory was heard informing fans they would be attending the Madison Square Garden concert.

An insider told the publication, "She said they wouldn’t be mic’d [sic] or anything, which led me to believe maybe [Madonna] would make them ‘Vogue’ judges."

An informant told Page Six that Haris and De Lory were given prominent seats close to the stage and were invited as guests of Madonna.

However, several of Madonna's fans were taken aback and disappointed when she invited Ripa to go on stage with her on Monday.

Fans slam Madonna for ignoring Niki and Donna

Madonna's fans appeared disappointed for ignoring former backup singers Niki + Donna at the Madison Square Garden, while the duo seemed unfazed and posted several recordings from the performance.

One such disappointed fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "It's a shame Donna and Niki didn't front up as guest judges. I have a feeling there's a bit of bad blood from Madonna, as diplomatic as the girls are."

A second one added, "I Niki and Donna. The made [sic] significant contributions to several of her albums as well as tours. Madonna is a notorious c**t for saying bad things about them."

"Oh no! I didn’t know Donna and Niki spoke negatively about Madonna. That’s a shame. I loved them as a trio. I felt like they were Madonna’s musical soulmates along with Pat Leonard, Stephen Bray, and William Orbit," said a fan.

Another one claimed, "People don't understand that without Niki and Donna, Madonna wouldn't have gotten to where she did."

Another X account slammed the pop icon and wrote in part: "Shame on you for not recognizing Niki and Donna and not bringing them up on stage with you. What a slap in the face to them and your fans who love them, as they were a huge part of your career. "

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