Lady Gaga’s enlightening speech that makes sexism in the music industry clear

There are artists who achieve fame precisely by breaking some standards. An example in the pop segment is Lady Gaga.

Now approaching 40 years old, the singer broke out at 22, with the release of her debut album The Fame (2008). In addition to helping to put electronic pop/dance back on top again, Gaga promoted an aesthetic revolution with its extravagant visuals and impactful music videos. In her lyrics, she offered bolder and even sexual references in a way that her contemporaries were not doing.

All of this seemed too much for a part of the public and the press that was not so used to such an approach — although artists from other generations, such as Madonnahave served as an influence on Gaga. The strangeness was expected. The sexist reaction, not so much.

An interview from 2009 illustrates this situation well. At the time, the singer was asked if she feared that sexual references in her lyrics would hinder her work on the song. From start, Gaga — who at the time had three hits at the top of the charts — didn’t even seem willing to respond, simply saying:

“I’m not afraid. You are?”.

Then, according to the transcription of the Refinery29 (via website Igor Miranda), deepened his reasoning — and made it clear how machismo occurs in the music industry.

“You see, if I were a guy with a cigarette in my hand and holding the bag while talking about how I make music because I like fast cars and fucking girls, you’d call me a ‘rockstar.’ But when I do this in my music and my videos, because I’m a woman and making pop music, you judge me and say it’s a distraction. I’m just a rockstar.”

Similar guitarist reasoning

A similar understanding was shared by the guitarist Sophie Lloyd recently. The guitarist became better known when she joined the band Machine Gun Kellyin 2022, but she was already famous on YouTube, with videos showing her technique on the instrument.

A common type of comment that Lloyd he faces on social networks is about the shorter clothes he wears both in videos recorded at home and at shows. According to her, even the press specializing in rock and heavy metal sometimes addresses this point, accusing her of “relying on short outfits, when men don’t do that”. In her view, it’s a big lie.

In an interview with Primordial Radio (via Killer Guitar Rigs), Sophie told how he reacts to this type of manifestation — and cited the difference in treatment offered to men and women in music.

“I have so many points about this. First, have you seen any of the recent posts from Lenny Kravitz on Instagram? He’s extremely sexual, you can tell [risos]. Secondly, men didn’t do this because they used women for their own benefit, like the Motley Crue, used naked girls on the cover and music videos. This has become a symbol of rock and roll that people have loved for so many years. And then finally women take back the power and say ‘I feel confident doing it this way, I do it for myself’. We’re not doing this for you guys. We’re doing this because that’s what makes us feel confident.”

Lady Gaga Rumor

Another situation involving Lady Gaga which shows how issues outside of music can result in different treatment for an artist is a rumor that she is a hermaphrodite.

If it were, there wouldn’t be any problem. However, obviously, it was just a rumor. And even though they were aware that there was a high chance that this story was not true, several journalists and presenters asked questions to Gaga about the subject.

A video recently shared on TikTok compiles a series of responses from the artist to this type of question. Check it out below.

– Journalist 1: Crazy rumors, for example, that you were a hermaphrodite… how do you feel about that when you read that kind of thing?

– Lady Gaga: I’m not even going to answer that question.

– Journalist 2: This strange rumor that you were half man, half woman. Have you heard this rumor?

– Lady Gaga: (Laughs) Yes.

– Journalist 2: And is it true?

– Lady Gaga: No.

– Journalist 3: Do you have a penis or not?

– Lady Gaga: You know… my beautiful vagina is very offended by this question.

– Journalist 3: Really? So you have a vagina?

The collection of footage still presents a response from Gaga to a sexist question about her appearance. The dialogue took place as follows:

– Lady Gaga: (In likely response to another question) I think I look pretty. Don’t you think I look pretty?

– Journalist 4: Yes, but it’s a little sexy.

– Lady Gaga:Sexy?

– Journalist 4: Maybe provocative.

– Lady Gaga: I don’t think it’s provocative. I think I look pretty.

The famous interview with Lady Gaga The Anderson Cooper, in 2011, was left out of the compilation. In it, the artist responds again to rumors that she has a “male appendage” and that she is a “hermaphrodite”.

“Maybe it’s true. 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.”