Lady Gaga explains why she never addressed rumors she was a man: ‘I didn’t feel like a victim’

Lady Gaga recently shared why she chose not to address the longstanding rumor that she was a man during the early years of her career. In an interview with Bill Gates for his new Netflix series What’s Next? The Future With Bill Gates, Gaga explained, "The reason I didn’t answer the question was because I didn’t feel like a victim with that lie." She added that addressing it wasn’t in the best interest of others, particularly for young people who might be struggling with similar accusations​.

The rumor, which began in the 2010s, surfaced after a doctored image of the pop star circulated online. Despite being repeatedly asked about it, Gaga decided not to dispel the claim, stating that she wanted to be "thought-provoking and disruptive in another way"​. The Bad Romance singer previously commented on the rumor in a 2011 interview with Anderson Cooper, humorously questioning why she should "waste time" addressing such claims​.

Gaga’s comments in the Netflix series have since garnered praise from fans, who admired her long-term strategy, empathy, and bravery. "That is so much more real than all of the rumors that are designed to orbit me to gain more clicks," she said, emphasizing that her performances are more genuine than any online speculation​.