In a recent appearance on Netflix’s documentary “What’s Next? Bill Gates and the Future,” Lady Gaga opened up about the widespread rumor that she was a man during her early career. She recounted how during her promotional tours and interviews in her early twenties, she was constantly asked about the speculation. “I was traveling the world doing tours and promotion, and every interview I did, almost without fail, they would ask, ‘There’s this rumor that you’re a man, what do you want to say about that?'” she revealed, adding that there were even manipulated images circulating online.
Gaga explained her decision to not directly address these rumors, saying, “I didn’t feel hurt by the lie, but I did think about how children who are bullied with similar words might feel if they saw a celebrity like me not even bothering to address it.” She realized that correcting the rumor wouldn’t necessarily benefit everyone, so she decided to use the false information to her advantage and turn it into an opportunity to draw attention to a bigger issue.
She continued, stating, “People say that an artist like me has performances that are fake, but the performance is the only thing that’s real. It’s much more real than rumors that are circulating for clicks.”
According to People magazine, the rumors started circulating around 2008-2009 when Gaga was gaining immense popularity with her debut album, *The Fame*. In a 2009 interview with Barbara Walters on ABC News, she said, “It’s just strange because everyone says it’s so crazy. I think I’m androgynous, and I think that’s great.” She further addressed the rumor in a 2011 interview with Anderson Cooper, when asked about having a penis. Gaga replied, “Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. Is that so scary? I don’t know why I should waste my time with an official statement on whether or not I have a penis. My fans don’t care, and neither do I.”
Throughout her career, Lady Gaga has been a strong advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, using her platform to promote inclusivity and challenge societal norms. Her approach to handling the gender rumors demonstrates her strategic thinking and her commitment to using her influence for a greater purpose.
