Lady Gaga has landed in controversy after fan-submitted messages projected during her Mayhem Ball concert went viral for all the wrong reasons. Screens at a recent show displayed two inflammatory remarks, one calling Madonna a “90-year-old who wants to be Gaga,” and another branding Katy Perry a liar. The incident triggered immediate online backlash, with accusations of ageism, misogyny, and hypocrisy erupting across social media.
The comments were part of an interactive segment where concertgoers could submit messages to be shown during the performance. While intended to create a sense of fan engagement, the system backfired when offensive submissions slipped through moderation. A viral tweet highlighted the messages, stating Gaga was “allowing ageist and misogynistic comments at her concert,” which ignited an online war among fanbases.
Critics blasted the singer and her team for failing to properly filter the displayed comments. “Love Gaga but this is supposed to be a safe, respectful space,” one user wrote. Others were more direct, calling her ‘a hypocrite’ and ‘performative.’ Fans of Madonna and Katy Perry swiftly jumped into the fray, accusing Gaga of encouraging fan wars and disrespecting her peers.
However, some fans defended the pop star, arguing that she wasn’t personally responsible for the comments. “They were submitted by trolls and slipped through,” one supporter explained. “She’s not ageist, this was a moderation failure, not malice.” Others speculated the situation was being manipulated by ragebait accounts deliberately stirring fan drama.
Despite the nuance, many still hold Gaga accountable, noting her role as creative director of the tour. “Even if she didn’t write the comments, she’s responsible for what appears on her stage,” a critic argued.
The Mayhem Ball tour, supporting Gaga’s album Mayhem, has been praised for its elaborate visuals and choreography. But with the backlash now dominating the narrative, fans are watching closely to see whether Gaga or her team will issue a statement or quietly remove the feature from future shows.
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