Lady Gaga has finally opened up about the rumors that swirled around her gender during her early career. The pop icon shared her thoughts on the matter in the second episode of Netflix’s “What’s Next? The Future With Bill Gates,” which premiered on Wednesday.
When Gaga burst onto the music scene, she faced questions about her gender identity. Doctored pictures on the internet and whispers at press conferences suggested she might be a man. These rumors gained traction after a perceived bulge in her costume at the 2009 Glastonbury festival.
In the Netflix show, Gaga explained why she chose to stay quiet about these rumors during her global tours and media appearances:
“The reason I didn’t answer the question was because I didn’t feel like a victim with that lie. What about a kid that’s being accused of that, that would think that a public figure like me would feel shame.”
Gaga’s concern for vulnerable individuals guided her response to the rumors. She didn’t want her reaction to suggest that being transgender was shameful.
Back in 2011, Gaga 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.”
Instead of directly addressing the rumors, Gaga took a different approach:
“I tried to be thought-provoking and disruptive in another way. I tried to use the misinformation to create another disruptive point.”
One of her creative responses was the creation of Jo Calderone, a cigar-smoking fictional male character. Gaga appeared as Calderone on a Vogue cover, hosted the VMAs, and featured him in her “Yoü and I” music video from her 2011 album “Born This Way.”
Reflecting on her experiences with misinformation, Gaga said:
“I’ve been used to lies being printed about me since I was 20 years old. I’m a performer. I think it’s kind of funny.”
Fans have praised Gaga’s approach to handling controversy. One fan commented, “Truthfully, her level of eloquence, long-term strategy, empathy, and outright bravery is remarkable.”
Gaga’s thoughtful response to these rumors shows her commitment to using her platform responsibly and her understanding of the broader impact of her actions on her fans and the LGBTQ+ community.
