Lady Gaga Reflects on Past Rumors During Interview with Bill Gates
In a recent episode of Netflix’s “What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates,” pop superstar Lady Gaga opened up about the unfounded rumors that circulated during her rise to fame regarding her gender identity. These speculations suggested she was either a man or intersex, prompting her to carefully consider her responses at the time.
“I went all over the world,” Gaga told Gates. “I traveled for tours and for promoting my records, and almost every interview I sat in – there was this imagery on the internet that had been doctored – they were like, ‘There’s rumors that you’re a man. What do you have to say about that?’”
Throughout her career, Gaga has exhibited a nonchalant attitude towards these questions, as exemplified in a 2011 interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper for “60 Minutes.” At that time, Cooper brought up the rumor: “There was that rumor that you had a male appendage.”
“Maybe I do,” Gaga responded. “Would it be so terrible?” This playful retort highlighted her approach to the rampant speculation. Cooper commented on her light-heartedness: “A lot of artists would have put out some sort of statement saying ‘This is absolutely not true’, but you have fun with it.”
“Why the hell am I going to waste my time and give a press release about whether or not I have a penis?” Gaga quipped. “My fans don’t care and neither do I.”
During the discussion with Gates, Gaga elaborated on her decision not to address the gender speculation directly. “The reason why I didn’t answer the question is because I didn’t feel like a victim with that lie,” she explained. “I thought: What about a kid who is being accused of that who would think that a public figure like me would feel shame? I’ve been in situations where fixing a rumor was not in the best interest of the well-being of other people.”
The Grammy-winning artist acknowledged the prevalence of “misinformation” surrounding her persona. “I’ve been used to lies being printed about me,” she said. “I’m a performer. I think it’s kind of funny.”
Gaga’s reflections reveal a deeper understanding of the implications such rumors can have, not only on herself but on her fans and younger individuals who may grapple with similar accusations.
