Lady Gaga addresses long-standing 'she is a man' rumors on Bill Gates' show

Lady Gaga addresses long-standing 'she is a man' rumors

Lady Gaga has finally addressed the long-standing rumors from her early career suggesting that she was a man. In the second episode of the Netflix series What’s Next? The Future With Bill Gates, the pop icon opened up about why she chose to remain silent for so long, despite being constantly bombarded with such questions during her global tours and press appearances.

Recalling the persistent rumors, the Bad Romance singer explained that she "didn’t feel like a victim" and therefore didn’t see a need to clarify the claims until now. Speaking to Bill Gates on his show, she elaborated, “The reason I didn’t answer the question was because I didn’t feel like a victim with that lie. But I thought about what it would mean for a kid being accused of the same thing—someone who might look to a public figure like me for guidance and think that I felt ashamed.”

Lady Gaga reflected on the numerous press conferences where she was confronted with questions about doctored images and rumors spread across the internet. In 2011, she famously told CNN, “Why the hell am I going to waste my time and give a press release about whether or not I have a penis? My fans don’t care, and neither do I.”

Lady Gaga talks about how she's handled misinformation in her career in Netflixs Whats Next? The Future with Bill Gates. pic.twitter.com/625Kx0yHIX
Little Monsters Official (@lilmonsfanclub) September 18, 2024

Appearing on Bill Gates’ show, which tackles pressing global issues, the Bloody Mary singer shared her thoughts on misinformation. “I’ve been in situations where fixing a rumor wasn’t in the best interest of others’ well-being,” she said, adding, “I tried to be thought-provoking and disruptive in other ways. I used the misinformation to create another kind of disruptive point.” Reflecting on her career and experiences with false claims, Lady Gaga remarked, “I’ve been used to lies being printed about me since I was 20. I’m a performer, and honestly, I think it’s kind of funny.”

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The conversation has quickly gained traction online, with fans applauding Lady Gaga’s tactful approach to handling controversy and her willingness to address the rumors in her own time. Fans also highlighted her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.

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The rumors began after a picture surfaced from her 2009 performance at the Glastonbury Festival, with some claiming they spotted a bulge in her costume. Throughout her career, Lady Gaga often responded with sarcasm or indifference, making it clear her fans were unconcerned with her gender identity. To challenge these rumors and expectations, Lady Gaga introduced her drag king alter ego, Jo Calderone, who made multiple high-profile appearances, including a Vogue cover shoot and her stint hosting the VMAs. She also featured the cigar-smoking persona in the music video for Yoü and I, from her 2011 album Born This Way.