Summary
- Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, has had a successful career in music and acting, earning a massive fortune.
- Gaga has faced criticism for her extravagant and over-the-top persona, but she has also shown her real, humane side in recent years.
- Despite her fame, Gaga feels disconnected from her fans and struggles with the pressure of being placed on a high pedestal. She has described herself as a "perfect illusion" to others.
If we told the audience the name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, they probably wouldn't know who we're talking about. Yet, there's nearly no chance you haven't heard of Lady Gaga before. Yes, they are the same person. The American star is an all-rounder in the entertainment industry. Not only does she sing and write her own songs, but she's also ventured into the acting world, where she's managed to land award-winning roles. Gaga has earned a massive fortune throughout her career from both music and acting.
Before having her breakthrough with her debut album, and hits such as "Poker Face" and "Bad Romance," Gaga used to do open mic nights, and act in school plays. Right from the very beginning of her career, the singer created a star persona that would often get criticized for her extravagance, and over-the-top appearances and demeanor.
It wasn't until the latter half of the 2010s, that Gaga got to show and express her real humane side. She doesn't shy away from experimenting with genres such as techno-pop, rock, or jazz, as well as from taking on roles from two sides of a different spectrum, such as Ally in A Star Is Born (2018), or Harley Quinn in Joker 2. Creating different personas for each performance led Gaga to feel as if she's not very connected with her fans, in part because they don't really know her.
Lady Gaga Says It's Weird Being A "Star"
Having been on the scene for more than twenty years, and having had success in the likes of Lady Gaga, one would expect a certain discomfort with her public status.
The star has been very open about her traumatic experiences in life, and she's always used her spotlight to advocate for people less fortunate. Although Gaga's had a handful of different controversies, such as the meat dress, what does it truly feel like for her to be placed on such a high pedestal every second of her life?
When appearing on Elvis Duran Show, Gaga admitted how she felt about fame, saying, "I think, some of the way you could understand how it feels maybe to be me trying to be a human, and also being a star ... It's so weird to say that."
Going on Chromatica Ball tour, which earned staggering amounts of money, preparing for a Star Is Born audition that required Gaga to act for hours, and then relaunching her successful Haus line through Sephora, and yet Gaga still feels weird calling herself 'a star.'
It's not unusual for stars that come from nothing to find it very hard to get used to the overwhelming lifestyle. It's no different for Lady Gaga, who despite her flashy wardrobe, is known to be very authentic, and down-to-earth.
Gaga Believes She's Created A "Perfect Illusion"
Rebounding to the Elvis Duran interview, the singer made sure to walk the interviewer through what it feels like to walk in her shoes as a star. Gaga had to hire security guards for her own wardrobe due to the unimaginable cost of her clothing.
Additionally, Gaga has had to up her security with a panic room after her bulldogs got stolen. Situations like those would make it hard to open up and connect with people for everyone.
"I'm a perfect illusion to so many people. And, the truth is, that it's very hard for me to have a human connection with others, that I don't know, because they feel like they're looking at an image."
But, what's really challenging for the singer to come to terms with, is the fact that she was the one who gave her fans all these different images of her. Therefore, there really isn't anyone but her, to blame for the lack of connection that she sometimes feels.
The Oscar-winning actress has expressed, on multiple occasions, the rage she used to feel towards being famous. Gaga told CBS that being a star was exhausting, and made her feel used up. Back in 2016, Gaga released a single titled "Perfect Illusion" in hopes of reestablishing human connection with the people around her.
Fans Loved Gaga's Insight (Even If They Disagree)
Little Monsters, as Gaga's fandom calls themselves, appreciated the singer's insight. While some agreed that big stars often face this issue, others vehemently disagreed with Gaga's outlook on the situation.
The fans of the Grammy-winning star are very dedicated, often engaging in activities, such as the Little Monsters finding various clues for Gaga's next albums. But, they do not abstain from speaking their true mind either.
Some fans in the comments under the interview called what Gaga described "The Michael Jackson effect." The consequences of creating such a strong illusionist persona might lead to people believing one to be an apparition when meeting them.
Others refute her analogy by pointing out that despite her crazy, and weird star persona, Gaga has managed to show the world that it's okay to act that way as long as you do it with acceptance and kindness.
Many would expect Little Monsters to hate on her after such a confession, but the comments clearly expressed her fans' complete love and adoration for her deep insights.
