Yesterday, parts of Lady Gaga’s NME interview leaked, and everybody started yelling because Lady Gaga said “retarded”. She used the word when she was asked if she was blatantly crack heisting Madonna’s work and vibe, to which Gaga replied “That’s retarded” and then went off on a coked-out rage. Anyway, Gaga has apologized.
Lady Gaga’s got yet another bold statement to make: An apology.
The pop star came under fire after she dropped the “R bomb” — calling plagiarism accusations against her “retarded” — in an interview.
Following the fracas, the “Judas” singer told Perez Hilton: “I consider it part of my life’s work and music to push the boundaries of love and acceptance. My apologies for not speaking thoughtfully. To anyone that was hurt, please know that it was furiously unintentional. An honest mistake, requires honesty to make,” Gaga, 25, said.
Quoting her smash hit “Born This Way,” she concluded: “Whether life’s disabilities, left you outcast bullied or teased, rejoice and love yourself today.”
In her expletive-laded chat with NME, Gaga (real name: Stefani Germanotta) complained of speculation that “Born This Way” was a rip-off of Madonna’s “Express Yourself.”
“I’m a songwriter,” she said. “I’ve written loads of music. Why would I try to put out a song and think I’m getting one over on everybody? That’s retarded. What a completely ridiculous thing to even question me about.”
The term “retarded” is “extraordinarily offensive and inappropriate,” Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc (a nonprofit advocacy group for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities), told Us Weekly last August, after Jennifer Aniston made a similar quip.
[From Us Weekly]
Sure. Sounded sincere, and she seems like she means it. Here’s the thing though – I still think she should apologize to Alexander McQueen’s family for saying that McQueen killed himself just so his spirit could inhabit her body and write “Born This Way”. I also think she should apologize to God for giving Him credit for “Born This Way” (God said “I’ll take credit for The White Album, but not that Gaga crap.”)
Weird Al also did a version of “Born This Way” which he’s calling “Perform This Way”. After a back-and-forth scuffle yesterday, Weird Al is releasing the single and the proceeds will be donated to the Human Rights Campaign. Clever!
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Of course it was. What can she say? Retarded fuck.
Oh man…no Charlie???
Well at least she had the class to apologize. Unlike some ‘American Sweethearts’
This lady has become a parody of herself and seems to be the last one to know.
Droopy boobs need to be supported, Gaga.
Hah! I knew she’d get nailed for saying that. She thinks that everything she has to say is important. Maybe this will bring her down a peg or two.
I’m glad she apologized. Not to even speak of how much hurt that word has caused myself and people around me, anyone who uses it is insta-trash in my books. A little grace and understanding never killed anyone hmmm?
It’s a fricken honor to have Weird Al Yankovic do a version of your song. Wake up woman!
I’m sorry, but as far as I am concerned, it is too little, too late. People should learn to think before they speak. This stupid bitch is only apologizing because she is getting some flack for it. I do not buy, nor accept her apology. Neither should people with special needs, because it is an artificial apology.
(God said “I’ll take credit for The White Album, but not that Gaga crap.”)
Kaiser’s Gem of the Day 4/21/11
Last week my friend invited me to see Gaga live. I’m am definitely not a fan and not into her music (aside from my 13 year old loving Born this Way). But it was my friend’s birthday so I went.
Well, sh*t if she wasn’t amazing. I never knew how well this woman can sing. I’m not talking about performing; I’m talking about just her on a piano singing. We all complain about autotuned messes like Rhianna, Britney, Fergie and Perry… After seeing that show Gaga can be on whatever peg she wants and, with the possible exception of “retard”, say whatever else over the top self-absorbed artistic crap she wants because she sings, dances, expresses herself and DID NOT LIP SYNCH once in the show. Respect.
@zxc -LOLOLOL.
@mia girl- she’s an amazing performer. she’s definitely got stage presence.
I’d rather she apologize for the visions i get whenever I see her in that plastic see through nun thing suit. The visions include horrific scents wafting from the groinal area due to heat and nonbreathability-i can practically see the suit fogging up.
People say stupid shit all the time. Often they are sorry. It’s a human thing, get over it people.
I’m not mad about her saying ‘retarded’. I think it’s dumb for her to say it when she champions equality, yes. That’s hypocritical.
I just don’t like her anymore because she’s annoying and her ego is getting bigger than Kanye’s. Bitch, shut up and make music, stop dressing outlandishly to get attention, cop to ripping off a song and ffs wear a bra.
She makes terrible music and her voice is annoying
We don’t need another bad Madonna.
We like OUR ORIGINAL.
Can this one please move to the back of the line?
Since “furiously unintentional” is a meaningless phrase coined only to make her sound clever, I don’t think she’s really sorry.
J’accuse GaGa!
Weird Al Rules!
@southerncheerleader
I understand how you feel, because Gaga could not exist if Madonna or Grace Jones or David Bowie, etc etc hadn’t.
But I will tell you this, as blasphemous as it might sound to some, Madonna wishes she had Gaga’s singing voice. I saw Madonna live in her prime (twice), and after seeing Gaga last week, I honestly think that Gaga put on a better overall show. She has real musical talent, as “furiously” wrapped up as it might be in the over the top artistry for art’s sake crap. I still won’t necessarily buy her music, but I was impressed and entertained.
Agree with #3. Still waiting to hear from Jennifer Aniston.
I’ve bought her a bra. Does anyone know the address to send it to?
I LOVE WEIRD AL! lol I’m also a victim of loving some of GaGa’s music. But that was furiously unintentional, so no one can blame me for my periodically odd taste in music.
“furiously unintentional”
She really thought that was clever didnt she…
Man I have been using that term “Retarded” all my life especially in regards to adjusting the ignition timing on my 1967 Camaro. I also occasionally use the word “Advanced” I really think that a root of the word should be understood prior, as we all seem to link terms to a human condition. If you used the word as it was meant to be used then The Lady Gaga simply said that the charges of plagiarisms were “slow”. It was everybody else that had that “South Park” moment of hearing Little Eric Cartman pretending to be special. Really it was all of us that made that term so loaded, oops I did it again, I said “Loaded”, now what does that term bring up, Towelee!
Yesterday she said
“When I homage, I bleeping homage with a big sign saying I’ve done it!”
Ummm… Peaches? Homage is a noun, not a verb. You don’t homage, you pay homage. Now she is furiously unintentional” Yesterday I said someone should make her stop talking. I’m wrong. Its becoming very entertaining.
@mia girl, I have to disagree. I really enjoyed Gaga’s show and I have The Fame/Fame monster. But Madonna’s Blond Ambition and her more recent Confessions tour was brilliant. I don’t use that term loosely. But Madonna while not as good of a singer (though I love the tone to her voice), is a performer like no other, and her music variation grabs me, not just campy dance music or cabaret like Gaga.
Madonna’s Confessions tour DVD I swear I have rewatched 10 times reliving the concert. I have never experienced an opening song and spectacle like that in my life at a concert. Of course, I ADORE Confessions on a Dance Floor album, so loved seeing so many songs live. Madonna’s music has always covered so many genres; whereas, Gaga’s is only campy dance music (which BTW is extremely catchy.)
I just miss fun Gaga and now in interviews she is so full of herself and proclaiming her new album is the most brilliant of the decade (lol), and so now is pissed that the reception to her first two singles has been lackluster as far as songwriting skills. Songs in the Fame era were much better written. Though, they will still be a hit because they’re catchy enough. Hopefully, the rest of the new album will have better songs than the first two singles.
#13 – That which is read, cannot be unread.
“Furiously unintentional”…uh…DER! That makes no sense at all. Boy oh boy, she’s really just wallowing in her own self-importance now, isn’t she?
@Janna
Sure. No one does dramatic performance spectacle quite like Madonna. And no disrespect for Madonna, I guess my reaction is based on being so surprised by the fact that Gaga really can sing.
I would say this, keeping with the Madonna theme… while I really don’t know any of Gaga’s music very well, comparing Gaga’s first album to her new songs is kinda like comparing Borderline to Like a Virgin no? I mean if she manages to keep a career without self-imploding in her own creativity (haha) or impaling herself on one of her costumes (haha), it is early in her career… maybe she will evolve. You seem like a real fan, so give it time.
I have said more about Gaga on this thread than I have ever said before so I am shutting this subject down for myself.
Please honey, just go away.
I agree #3. At least she talked about it and apologized, rather than sweeping it under the rug and pretending it never happened.
As for her copying, well isn’t Madonna a copy of every club kid that was alive in the 1980s + 90s? She was sued for copying people. To say Madonna is an original is naive. Yes, original for the general public, but definitely not on the club music scene in New York.
Plus, I think Gaga is more interesting than Madonna in some ways. For one, Madonna always had to be the MOST beautiful girl. In her videos, it was always, “I’m a beautiful goddess–you want me.” I like that Gaga is more about letting your inner monster out, and being a non-beautiful freak. Gaga isn’t a classic beauty and that’s ok. It’s much more interesting to me than the “it’s all about my beauty, narcissism” that Madonna seemed to push.
Seriously, people will make a fuss about anything. ANYTHING. Making mountains out of mole hills because they just have to be upset about something. Lighten up people.
The fact that she apologized for it IS retarded. Obviously the word is a part of her vocabulary, so why give a fake apology?
I really love her voice and I think she’s quite talented, but I wish she’d STFU and just make music.
Here is my problem:
Would she have actually apologized if she wasn’t called on it first?
I don’t care for apologies unless they’re sincere and realized through someone’s own self awareness and not what other people or the media point out.
Forced apologies are just as offensive as the action that called for one.
Some people are called out for using this word and never once acknowledge it, like Aniston. Given that she is on the Lilli Claire Foundation, which is against the defamation of those w/ disabilities, that’s odd. At least Gaga talked about it, and I think her apology sounded sincere.
I just don’t get why people argue that it’s no big deal, stop being so PC!, and make all these excuses. Why would you want to offend someone? Isn’t their life hard enough? It makes no sense to me to endorse the use of the word that others find upsetting. Be creative–find another word. It’s not that hard. 🙂
And I don’t think people are angry or upset as much as they are amazed that grown adult women use that word. It’s like, “Wait. How old are you? 10?” It shows a lack of thought–which for 25 and 42 year olds–is pretty amazing.
Exactly #33, just like the congresswoman with the Obama/Chimp email. People had to DRAG an apology out of her, and it was laced with upapologetic undertones and defensiveness.
Anything less than an immediate apology is not one at all.
Wait! She wasn’t using the word to describe her hair, make up and droopy booby bikini! Now that is really ret…anistonlike.
Gaga apologized the very next day. How is that “dragging” it out of her?
And the congresswoman first DENIED she did anything wrong. She said the email had nothing to do with race, at first. Then, she barely apologized, saying people misinterpreted the whole thing. Then, she apologized using some odd biblical quotes to support herself. Now, she’s on the news giving out some strange press conference apology. It’s totally different, I feel.
Its not a matter of wanting to offend someone. Its the fact that people cry foul over so much little crap that it takes away from the actual offense. I find it irritating when the news covers something so freaking petty. Really, is there nothing else newsworthy going on? We need to write multiple articles on how she used the word “retarded”? Can we focus on like, this insane emasculating trend we have growing where we make our men look like hairless adolescent boys and our girls look like 12 year old hookers? I just think priorities are completely out of whack.
Hey, why didn’t you mention that Jennifer Aniston still hasn’t apologized for Retard word? I read this Gaga apology on other site and immediately remembered how Celebitchy always asks why Aniston is not apologizing 🙂
She apologized which is what matters to me. MAJORITY of people i know, including myself, are guilty of throwing around the word retarded. I have made it a point with myself and my kids to not say this word. It was common to say when i was growing up and I honestly dont think people realize how degrading it is – just like the N word.
More attention needs to be brought to the fact that using this word is NOT ok. Kudos to Gaga for apologizing and hopefully her young fans will take heart and the word will stop being used.
Personally I found more offense with her egotistical spewing than the fact that she used the word “retarded.” She sounded ridiculously full of herself and it was exceptionally off-putting.
I’ve never really been a fan (though I liked some of her music in spite of myself) and I’m starting to like her less and less.
Yes the word is wrong, but lets be honest here. We’ve all said it before. We’re human. And I do believe in her apology. She does do a lot advocating for human rights.
And secondly Lady Gaga does have a lot of talent. I think sometimes her crazy costumes distract people from that, or simply put people off. Check out videos of her singing live acapella or acoustic. She does have a lot of power in her voice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXTEw7hMcC0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG10P34JM4I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3R3KqrJAI4
Someone posted this on the other thread yesterday, and it was pretty eye-opening I thought. So, I thought I’d pass it along.
–I just saw yesterday morning on another site comparasations of CaCa and other artist that she copied from.here’s the link
http://fishki.net/comment.php?id=87057
I honestly don’t understand why people get all worked up over the word “retarded”. It is simply a slang term & it’s not being used to insult “mentally challenged” people. Completely inoffensive, in my opinion.
@Scarlett Vixen, that is hysterical. Here’s something that someone posted on the internet to Madonna’s song She’s Not Me with clips of Madonna and Gaga on it.
She’s Not Me – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo2RcQr42BY
she’s sooooo gross. just sayin.
Scarlet vixen – that link is hilarious. Do you think she realises shes copying or its all subconscious?
AL 4 T3H W1N
“Why would I try to put out a song and think I’m getting one over on everybody?”
Yes, why DID you? Because you blatantly did.
And answering the question of *did she steal it* with another question, not suspicious at all.
It’s really a shame that this is what she’s chosen to do with all that talent.
I think this proves that she indeed is NOT a champion for the “monsters” of our world. I also find it insulting that she pastes things to her body to mimic physical deformities. I think it’s a disgusting mockery and a tremendous insult.
I cannot help but comment on her threads. She draws me in like a nasty trainwreck. Then I’m always, always sorry that I contributed to her ridiculous “fame” just by clicking. I want so badly to believe that I’m going to wake up one morning and she’ll just be a nightmare in my past.
whoah this weblog is excellent i like reading your posts. Keep up the good work! You recognize, a lot of individuals are looking around for this information, you can aid them greatly.
great points altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What could you recommend in regards to your publish that you simply made some days in the past? Any positive?