Last week, the musical Jagged Little Pill opened on Broadway. Alanis Morissette also announced that she is going on tour with Liz Phair and Garbage in celebration of the album’s 25th anniversary next year. Alanis is giving interviews, and she visited Watch What Happens Live where she gave an interesting answer to a fan’s question about a long-circulating rumor:
Alanis Morissette has confirmed that she wasn’t allowed to make direct eye contact with Vanilla Ice while touring with him in the early 1990s.
The ‘You Oughta Know’ singer – who recently announced she’s about to embark on a series of anniversary shows – appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, where she was asked by a fan what her favourite part about opening for the rapper was all those years ago.
They also quizzed her on whether there was any truth to the rumour that the ‘Ice Ice Baby’ hitmaker wasn’t keen on his support act looking at him backstage.
“Yeah, I mean a lot of artists are overwhelmed by incredible, large amounts of stimuli, and I think me looking at him would have overstimulated him, so I just… averted my eyes,” Morissette explained, as Cohen laughed: “That is the best answer ever.”
Yikes. I’d forgotten about that rumor, tbh, but I really love the way that Alanis answered the question. Rather than flat-out saying, “Yeah, I wasn’t allowed to look at him,” she tried to be kinder and gave an answer that attempted to offer a reason: artists tend to be “overwhelmed by stimuli,” and then claimed the power in that dynamic for herself. As someone who gets overwhelmed when I’m surrounded by a lot of people, I can understand not wanting to be stared at constantly, but come on: You find ways to deal with that, and you don’t act like a power-hungry d-ck by banning people from looking at you, especially your opening act. Alanis is the one with the musical that’s getting rave reviews and the anniversary tour, so she’s probably not broken up about it. Vanilla Ice has a long-running renovation show on the DIY network called The Vanilla Ice Project. No shame in that and he seems to have gotten over his issue with people looking at him.
Here’s that clip!
Photos credit: Avalon.red and WENN
Yeah…the level of graciousness in her answer clearly not deserved by Vanilla.
Very true. I was thinking thay maybe he was hella insecure because he knew he was out of his depth as a rapper. He had a massive case of imposter syndrome.
That was a great answer. He looks like a fool and she looks gracious as hell.
I have no doubt he’s over his issues. It’s amazing how discovering you’re actually not the greatest thing ever, never were, and never will be, will humble someone. Although that has destroyed more than a few stars and one hit wonders, so no shade to him for working where he can!
It’s been so lovely to see her evolve and grow as an artist, mother, philanthropist, and businesswoman. I’ve been waiting to see the Jagged Little Pill show since the album came out while I was in high school!
Vanilla Ice has always had a douchy vibe, so I’m confident he’s still a douchecanoe today.
Can anyone else still rap (badly) about 76% of Ice, Ice, Baby when driving alone on the freeway? No? Just me?
Will it ever stop? Yo, I don’t know. Turn off the lights and I glow. To the extreme I rock a mic like a vandal…
It’s my one talent. Sigh.
If there was a problem, yo, I’ll solve it. Check the hook while my DJ resolves it…
Lovin that this is your one talent 🙂
I think this is way more common than people think. And i buy the reason given by Alanis.
totally! not a celeb but work with the public and often wear glasses just to have another layer of sensory protection!
Considering where they both ended up in life, that’s pretty hilarious. I’m glad she had a sense of humor about it too, and things are going so well for her.
I can understand someone not wanting to be interrupted while preparing for a show backstage, but the no eye contact thing is just jerk behavior. Especially for someone who was only famous for one song, most of which was ripped from someone else.
She seems like such an intelligent, interesting, gracious, kind person. I was a huge fan since that album first came out when i was a college freshman. I’m so glad that life has turned out so well for her.
Vanilla Ice became such a joke, but he seems to have made the best of things, and at least he carved out a (non-musical) niche for himself and is working.
@stef: yes. Whenever that song comes on the radio it goes all of the way up. I have a now 17 year old daughter who does it with me.
Awesome! Love to hear I’m not alone, haha. My girl is 21 now and she’s had it down since she was 15.
OK I just looked at his Instagram page and he seems to have grown up. Which is kind of nice to see. Not really a fan of course , but you know anyone who was around in the early 90s loved that song and it’s nice to see someone not end up in the toilet or dead.
I have a friend that does a lot of extra work on movies. They get the same rules you can’t look at the stars in the eyes or approach them. It’s really not to demean them. But the stars are so focused on their work. If one person asks them for an autograph or picture. Then it opens it up for everyone to do it. Then production gets delayed. That’s verboten!
Vanilla Ice is still a butthead.
Love her and what a class act she is. Looking forward to the tour as well.
She is such a talented songwriter!