Lady Gaga addressed the infamous rumor that she was born a “man” again. Appearing in Bill Gates’ new Netflix series, What’s Next? The Future With Bill Gates, on Wednesday (September 18), the songstress felt that correcting controversial speculation about her sex was to a certain extent, problematic.
“The reason I didn’t answer the question was because I didn’t feel like a victim with that lie,” Lady Gaga told the billionaire.
Highlights
- Lady Gaga addressed rumors about her being born a 'man' in Bill Gates' new Netflix series.
- She chose not to deny the rumors to avoid making it feel like a shameful accusation.
- Gaga discussed how a viral altered image in the 2010s started the rumor.
- Her approach aimed to be thought-provoking and disrupt harmful gossip.
- Critics praised her for helping challenge the stigma around questioning gender identity.
She continued: “But I thought about, what about a kid that’s being accused of that, that would think that a public figure like me would feel shame.”
The Bad Romance hitmaker explained that the rumor began in the 2010s after an altered image of herself went viral online.
Lady Gaga once again addressed the infamous rumor that she was born a “man”
Image credits: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Image credits: GatesNotes
Lady Gaga said: “There was this imagery on the internet that had been doctored and they were like, ‘You know there’s this rumour that you’re a man. What do you have to say about that?’”
The Oscar-winner added: “I’ve been in situations where fixing a rumour was not in the best interest of — I thought of the wellbeing of other people."
Lady Gaga appears in Bill Gates’ new Netflix series, What’s Next? The Future With Bill Gates, September 18
Image credits: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Image credits: netflix
“So in that case, I tried to be thought-provoking and disruptive in another way. I tried to use the misinformation to create another disruptive point.”
The 38-year-old singer’s response ignited praise from her Little Monsters, as a Threads user commented: “Damn, I so respect this musician and woman!”
Lady Gaga felt that correcting controversial speculation about her sex was problematic
Image credits: netflix
At the MTV Video Music Awards 2011, Lady Gaga performed as her male alter ego, Jo Calderone
Image credits: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
A person wrote: “She was thinking beyond herself. I love that. Because being trans isn't a threat, it is nothing shameful.”
A separate individual chimed in: “I was that kid who heard her response! Thank you Gaga xx.”
"I didn’t feel like a victim with that lie,” Lady Gaga said
Image credits: netflix
Bill Gates’ exchange follows a 2011 interview with Anderson Cooper. At the time, Lady Gaga shut down speculations about her anatomy.
Responding to Anderson’s question about whether Lady Gaga was born male or not, the popstar said: “Why the hell am I going to waste my time and give a press release about whether or not I have a penis?”
Image credits: GAGA MEDIA ARCHIVES
“My fans don’t care and neither do I.”
Earlier in the same interview, the award-winning actress joked about having a 'male appendage', saying, “Maybe I do. Would it be so terrible?”
Lady Gaga explained that the rumor began in the 2010s
Lady Gaga’s choice not to respond to rumors about her body in the 2010s was recognizably beneficial to the trans community because it refused to treat the idea of being trans as an accusation or insult.
By not denying or validating the rumors, many people argued that Lady Gaga helped challenge the notion that questioning someone's gender is something shameful.
Moreover, a handful of critics explained that this approach reinforced the message that being trans is a valid identity and shouldn't be treated as something scandalous or derogatory.
"That's why I love Lady Gaga," a reader commented
