Grammy award-winning pop superstar Lady Gaga, 38, has addressed the persistent early career rumours about her gender, revealing why she chose not to publicly deny the claims.
In a recent interview, the “Die with a Smile” singer discussed the bizarre rumour that circulated during her early 20s.
“When I was in my early 20s, there was a rumour that I was a man,” she said.
“I travelled the world for tours and promoting my records, and almost every interview included questions about this doctored imagery on the internet.
“They’d ask, ‘There’s rumours that you’re a man. What do you have to say about that?’”
The pop icon explained that her decision not to address the rumour stemmed from her desire to protect others.
“The reason I didn’t answer the question was because I didn’t feel like a victim of that lie. But I thought about kids being accused of something similar and how they might feel shame if I did.”
The *Joker: Folie à Deux* star continued, “I’ve been in situations where correcting a rumour wasn’t in the best interest of others’ well-being.
In this case, I tried to be thought-provoking and disruptive in a different way, using the misinformation to create another disruptive point.”
The rumour followed the New York native for years after her 2008-2009 breakthrough with debut album, *The Fame*, and hits like “Poker Face,” “Just Dance,” and “Paparazzi.”
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