Lady Gaga is known for her powerful presence and groundbreaking contributions to music and culture, but she’s also had to navigate some rather absurd rumors during her rise to fame. Recently, the pop superstar opened up about one particularly strange and persistent rumor: the one claiming she was actually born male. While many public figures might feel compelled to categorically deny allegations like this, Gaga took another route entirely, opting instead to laugh it off.
During her conversation with Bill Gates on Netflix’s series What’s Next? The Future, Gaga shared her experience with the rumor. “When I was in my early 20s there was a rumor saying I was a man,” she explained. “I went all over the world. I traveled for tours and for promoting my records. Almost every interview I sat in, they said, ‘There’s rumors you’re a man. What do you have to say about it?’”
What made it even more ridiculous were the doctored images circulating online, creating supposed evidence to support the outlandish claims. Instead of feeling victimized or ashamed, Gaga chose to rise above it. “The reason why I didn’t answer the question is because I didn’t feel like a victim with this lie. I thought, what about the kids who might think public figures like me would feel shame?” she pondered. She reflected on how she’s been exposed to lies about her since the age of twenty, which she considers almost humorous.
This isn’t the first time Gaga has had to address absurd speculation. Back when the rumor was fresh, she answered similarly blunt questions with casual humor. During her infamous 2011 interview with Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes, when asked about the claims of her being more than just biologically female, she retorted, “Maybe I do. Would it be so terrible? 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.”
The pop queen's approach highlights her broader philosophy when it came to handling misinformation. Rather than focusing on the negative aspects of such rumors, she used them as opportunities for resilience and reflection. “I’ve been in situations where fixing a rumor was not in the best interest of the well-being of other people,” she remarked. “So, I tried to be thought-provoking and disruptive in another way. I tried to use the misinformation to create another disruptive point.”
Gaga’s defiance and humor come together stylistically as part of her artistic persona. This playful engagement, rather than outright denial, speaks volumes about her confidence and unwavering commitment to being true to herself. It also reflects her support for younger fans who may face similar kinds of public scrutiny.
Interestingly, the rumor about Gaga's gender surfaced alongside other internet myths, which tend to make their rounds whenever someone captures the public's imagination. This came to light again recently when she noted another rough patch from her past: the existence of old mockery groups formed by her classmates when she was at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Such experiences reminded her of how pivotal it is not to give up on dreams, even when faced with ridicule and harsh skepticism.
Gaga’s perspective resonates not just within the music industry but also serves as commentary for various social issues surrounding gender and identity. It amplifies her long-standing role as non merely an entertainer but as someone who speaks out against various forms of discrimination and misinformation.
Echoing her evolution alongside the relentless rumor mill, Gaga now busies herself with new projects, including her role as Harley Quinn alongside Joaquin Phoenix. Their much-anticipated film, Joker: Folie à Deux, is slated for release soon, generating immense buzz. But even with all the glitz and the glamorous world of film, the essence of Lady Gaga remains: fiercely authentic, unwaveringly humorous, and unyielding to the negative noise.
Her ability to balance humor with serious messaging continues to endear her to fans across all demographics. It is no surprise, then, as she recently indicated, she is gearing up for the release of her untitled seventh album, set to drop next February, with the first single arriving as soon as this October. The ability to face adversity with creativity—something she evidently mastered long before she took the stage—has helped cement her legacy as one of music's greats. So let the rumors fly; for Lady Gaga, they're just distractions on the way to her next triumph.
