Lady Gaga explains why she didn't deny transgender rumours in her early career

Lady Gaga has opened up about the transgender rumours that circulated early in her career, revealing that she chose not to deny them to help trans kids avoid feeling shame. 

The "Born This Way" singer revisited this topic during her appearance on What's Next? The Future With Bill Gates, addressing the 2011 rumours that suggested she was transgender.

During a CNN interview in 2011, Anderson Cooper brought up these rumours, asking about a male appendage. Gaga famously responded at the time: “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.”

Reflecting on this 13 years later, Gaga explained her reasoning. She shared that during her early tours and promotional events, she was constantly asked about the rumours. 

However, she chose not to address them publicly because she didn’t feel victimised by the speculation. Instead, she said, “What about a kid who is being accused of that who would think that a public figure like me would feel shame?”

Gaga continued, “I tried to be thought-provoking and disruptive in another way. I tried to use the misinformation to create another disruptive point.”

Throughout her career, Gaga has remained a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, often voicing her solidarity with the trans community. 

Earlier this year, she spoke out against the abuse faced by trans content creator Dylan Mulvaney, reiterating her commitment to protecting the trans community.