Lady Gaga recently shed light on why she chose not to respond to a lingering rumor that suggested she was really a man during the early stages of her career. The 38-year-old singer, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, discussed this issue on the Netflix series What’s Next? The Future With Bill Gates.
“I’ve been used to lies being printed about me since I was 20 years old,” Gaga shared. “I’m a performer. I think it’s kind of funny. When I was in my early 20s, there was a rumor that I was a man.” This rumor followed her as she traveled “all over the world” to promote her music after a doctored image surfaced online.
“Almost every interview I sat in,” she recalled, “they said, ‘There’s this rumor that you’re a man. What do you have to say about that?’” Despite the pressure, the Grammy winner chose to ignore the speculation, opting not to release a statement regarding the validity of the rumors.
“The reason why I didn’t answer the question is because I didn’t feel like a victim with that lie,” she explained. “But I thought, ‘What about a kid that’s being accused of that, who would think a public figure like me would feel shame?’”
Gaga continued, “I’ve been in situations where fixing a rumor was not in the well-being of other people. 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.”
In typical Lady Gaga fashion, she handled the pregnancy rumors with wit and grace, delivering a playful yet pointed response. On June 4, when speculation about her possibly being pregnant with fiancé Michael Polansky’s child started circulating, Gaga swiftly shut it down. “Not pregnant,” she wrote in a TikTok clip, cheekily adding, “just down bad crying at the gym.” Her humor resonated with fans, reminding everyone of her candid, down-to-earth personality, even in the face of public scrutiny.
Beyond the clapback, Gaga used the moment to focus on something she cares deeply about: civic engagement. She didn’t just brush off the rumors; she seized the opportunity to shift the conversation towards a cause she consistently advocates for, sharing a link for her followers to register to vote. This move was quintessential Gaga—turning speculation and media buzz into an opportunity to push for positive action. Fans loved how she blended humor, self-awareness, and activism all in one gesture, staying true to her multifaceted identity as an entertainer and advocate.
