Paula Abdul Addresses Her Infamous Tap Dance At Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Renowned singer and choreographer Paula Abdul has opened up about her unforgettable tap dance performance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which left viewers divided and sparked a flurry of social media discussions.

At the time, fans accused Abdul of lip-syncing and "fake tap-dancing," with some calling her performance a "budget performance."

Read on for more details.

The 2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was an extraordinary affair, celebrating the spirit of tradition and showcasing a variety of performances. Amid the colorful floats and giant balloons, Paula Abdul took center stage with an exuberant tap dance routine that showcased her unmatched talent aboard a float.

However, her performance at the time was met with mixed reactions from fans as some accused her of "lip-syncing" and "fake tap-dancing."

Speaking candidly about the performance in an interview with the Daily Mail, Abdul revealed, "That was a bucket list moment for me. Since I was a little girl, I used to watch, I mean, I've always watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade."

She continued, "I used to be the kid that my parents would say, 'Paula, come out of your room; the parade's over.' I'd still be hanging over my window because I was determined they would march around my street. So I stayed hours out there."

The acclaimed choreographer has captivated audiences for decades with her incredible talent and infectious energy. Now, at the age of 60, she continues to defy expectations by maintaining a remarkably fit and youthful physique. 

In the interview with the news outlet, she opened up about her secret to staying in shape, attributing it to the powerful effect dancing has on the "psyche of every human being."

The former "American Idol" judge said, "I'll always be doing that. I always say my home away from home is a dance studio. I'm just grateful I have had it in my life for all these years... it's not like exercising; it's just pure joy."

She added, "It changes the spirit and the psyche of every human being, and it changes your life for the rest of your life. I love watching people that always are afraid to dance start dancing, and then they start training a little bit, and it's like, where has this been all my life?"

In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Abdul highlighted her decision to decline an offer to join the popular "Real Housewives" reality TV series.

In the interview, she emphasized that for her long history with reality shows, she'll prefer to be the one watching instead of performing in the drama-filled series.

"I've been humbled," she said about the prospect of joining the Bravo franchise. "I got a kick out of it that I was ever even asked. However, I like to be on the couch with the popcorn, watching with my dogs."

She added, "I feel like I've been on reality television for a long time. Being part of history, making shows, and being able to be a mentor, it's been joyful."

During the fifth annual Vanderpump Dog Foundation gala in Beverly Hills, the former "X Factor" judge also opened up to ET about how she currently spends her time as she divulged that she relishes using the TikTok app.

"TikTok was built for me. I should have been doing this long ago," she shared. "I'm having a great time, especially working with younger talent, being able to pass on a lot of wisdom... I love letting them know what they're up against, what they should do to nail their auditions, and things like that."

She revealed that she probably spends time with her puppies when she's not on TikTok.

"I always support Lisa's cause for what she does with her Vanderpump Dogs," she said of Lisa Vanderpump. "For her raising awareness, for her rallying and protesting, just the amount of awareness to raise money to rehabilitate dogs, to take care of their medical bills... Having a dog, especially rescuing a dog, is the greatest gift... I can't imagine not having dogs. I've rescued dogs my whole life."