Lady Gaga just pulled an Aniston! She used the word “retarded.” What’s worse is that I almost lost the significance of that as I was reading the transcript of her coked-out rant. The basic gist of it: Lady Gaga was doing an interview with NME, and she was asked about her blatant hijacking of Madonna’s songs, vibe and modus operandi. Gaga’s reply? “That’s retarded.” And then she just coke-ranted:
Long lauded for her civil rights work in the LGBT community, Lady Gaga just dropped the “R word.”
When NME asked the 25-year-old star whether she thought “Born This Way” was a knock-off of Madonna’s “Express Yourself,” the singer (real name: Stefani Germanotta) was outraged. “I’m a songwriter. 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.”
She raged on: “What a completely ridiculous thing to even question me about… If you put the songs next to each other, side by side, the only similarities are the chord progression. It’s the same one that’s been in disco music for the last 50 years. Just because I’m the first f***ing artist in 25 years to think of putting it on Top 40 radio, it doesn’t mean I’m a plagiarist, it means that I’m f***ing smart. Sorry.”
When Jennifer Aniston used the word “retard” in a Live! With Regis and Kelly interview in August, Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc (a nonprofit advocacy group for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities), told Us Weekly her usage of the term was “extraordinarily offensive and inappropriate.”
“Frankly, someone in her position ought to know better,” Berns said of Aniston, 42. “She is using language that is offensive to a large segment of the population in this country… Even if [the word] wasn’t intended to insult them, that is the effect of it.”
Other celebs, including Lindsay Lohan and Howard Stern, have been blasted for their use of the “R word” as well.
Kirsten Seckler, spokeswoman for the Special Olympics, told Us that stars may want to use the word “ridiculous” instead. She added: “Think before you speak, especially when you’re making fun of yourself or others.”
[From Us Weekly]
Should Gaga apologize? Sure. But no one will buy Gaga’s apology unless it involves the words “I admit to copying Madonna” and “cocaine binge” and “Luc made me.”
Since I no longer want to get involved with Gaga’s coke rages, I’d like to tell you another story about my mother’s gay cat, Charlie. I talked about him in one of the last Gaga posts – I had to remind my mom that Charlie was “born this way.” Anyway, one of my mom’s other cats, Daisy, is a huge, aggressive girl cat, and she’s homophobic. She beats the crap out of Charlie regularly, and he spends most of his days hiding in the closet. “Appropriate, isn’t it?” my mother asked.
Gaga photos courtesy of NME & Bazaar.
oh, stefani.
(*☻-☻*)
I really dislike Gaga and she should probably know better than to use words like that because of people’s reactions. But I really don’t think it’s that bad of a word. If she’d said ‘mentally retarded’, then yeah ok, offensive. But I never get how the actual word ‘retarded’ is offensive on its own, it literally just means delayed or a hold back in progress.
She reminds me of a Madonna-loving friend I had when I was younger. She actually looks almost exactly like Lady Gaga & dressed somewhat similar as well. Please keep in mind that my friend was a crazy klepto dope fiend who was really really high most of the time so I believe she had an excuse. I hope she’s OK now.
I wonder how she would react if someone use the term, “That’s so gay” in her presence to refer to something they thought was stupid or silly.
Both terms are highly offensive.
I’m really not offended at all by the word retarded. It’s discriptively accurate but I’ll beat the crap out of anyone using it to bully a Downs child. They’re wonderful people.
@Kaiser
Daisy and Charlie apprarently read your Taylor/Jake threads. Does Daisy sing?
Sorry, Lady Gaga, but you are a cover act copying Madonna. All the craziness has been done before aka Madonna. Its not a crime to be a homage to Madonna.
Not to diss lady gaga cuz I do like her music, but she does need to realize that she is influenced by Madonna.
I don’t know. I don’t think anyone who uses “retarded” anymore means it as a slur – to the point that it has lost its relevancy to developmental disabilities. For young people, it’s become a bit like “lame”. You could argue that “lame” is ableist, only that people nowadays never use it as an insult to the differently-abled anymore, it has just become synonymous with “bad” or “rubbish”…. And in a way, I think this is a good development – not that people use prejudiced language of course – but that a lot of words have lost their prejudiced connotations because people know better than to use them that way…
that story about Charlie made me lol.
I had to think for a second on why I was supposed to be offended. I really, truly do NOT connect the insult “retarded” with people who have developmental disabilities, so the word retarded doesn’t offend me. I have worked in clinical with children who have assorted developmental delays/disabilities, including Down syndrome and some rare disorders. I, and I am sure no one else, thinks of them as “retarded” or as anything other than individuals. If I need to take their condition into account, I still don’t think of them as “Lindsay the Down syndrome kid” or whatever; it’s “Lindsay”. That’s a long way of describing why the word retarded doesn’t offend me.
I don’t know what happened. I LOVED her, and ever since the born this way video and promos for the upcoming album, its all so forced, trying too hard now, and the grandiose and fabulous has become meaningless and pathetic.
I love the lyrics of born this way, and now she’s ruined that too with this latest comment.
I Repeat myself.
She’s alot of fun. Then she speaks.
Is it time for her to disappear into obscurity yet? Please, oh please, oh please?!
She is not edgy, she is not different, she is not pushing the envelope.
she’s ridiculous.
Looks-wise, Gaga reminds of Dale Bozzio, former lead singer of the Missing Persons turned, unfortunately, cat hoarder in NH. And someone the other day mentioned she looks a bit like Wendy O. Williams, late singer of the Plasmatics.
You should post a picture of Charlie, he is no doubt way cuter than Gaga.
As for the “retarted” word, I think it’s a generational thing. As I was growing up everyone said it and while I very consciously try to not use it anymore, it sometimes slips out. My younger sister, however, equates it to other offensive racist words and she’s about the same age as Gaga so you would think she’d be more conscious about it than say Jennifer Aniston.
Beth, I think she just got a paper cut from that envelope. That’s gotta hurt.
She doesn’t feel natural in all the getups, ya know? It doesn’t feel like it’s something she would really walk around in and there are those that actually do that in a version of what she struts around in. They do it because it’s “them”, is natural to them; she just feels forced and desperately looking for what should be next. It’s kinda desperate and biting at the same time.
When she goes down it will be epic, I’m sure, and no doubt from a considerable height if her boots have anything to say about it.;-)
There’s a bulge in the dress pic.. geeze..
I didn’t like her from the beginning, but after she just used the word ‘retarded’, I HATE HER! She should be ashamed of herself, and know better than to use that word. She is a poor example to children, as well as, the world.
She seems pretty angry in this interview. Defensive over the Madge comparison, much?
I thought the best part of the the interview was where she ‘burst into tears’ and then ‘grabbed her Marilyn Monroe’ lighter.
Edit: Seriously, why am I awaiting moderation?
jc126: I feel the same way and I used to work with kids with learning difficulties. I think you are right, we never think of them as being defined by their learning abilities or needs and certainly never in any negative terms! So I would never think of “retarded” used in this context as anything to do with people with different abilities….
@danielle352
You’re completely right – what used to be individual, creative and amazing spectacle is now becoming pretension and publicity-seeking insanity for the sake of insanity.
I used to love her work, but frankly, I’m starting to hope she never puts out another single(which isn’t going to happen, obviously).
Plus – in ‘Born This Way’, she specifically includes people with disabilities who were left “outcast, bullied, or teased” to “rejoice and love yourself today/Cause baby, you were born this way” – and now she’s throwing around the r-word, which is now qualified as hate speech in some states?
It makes you wonder if she even believes her own lyrics.
I want Charlie 😀
She’s burning out.
But due to my strong opposition against political correctness and the way it’s enforced, I will not diss her for using the word ‘retarded’. Makes me think if we shouldn’t cut speech altogether, because, gosh, we might offend someone!
Jesus she’s boring though. As someone said – too forced. Too full of shit, I’d add. Her costumes have become boring, her statements recycled, and she’s not particularly bright either. She’s tiring and although I like her music and voice, she needs to shut the hell up and go away for at least a year. Way to turn your fan base against you, Gaga.
I am WAY more into the Charlie/Daisy drama than I am anything to do with Lady Gaga.
Team Charlie!!!
Sorry, not buying it – her new song sounds EXACTLY like Express Yourself. There have been lawsuits for less similar songs, and I’m surprised Madonna hasn’t gone on the attack.
Using the R word – not the end of the world, but never a wise move.
@girl, I was thinking the EXACT SAME THING. I really REALLY hate the word “retarded.” A dear friend of my families has cerebral palsy (sp?) and he got called “retard” a LOT when we were kids. It pissed me off then and pisses me off today.
Agree with everyone unless she really goes in a different direction she needs to disappear – she’s not hip, cool, edgy, different or anything; just another corporate creation that realizes what she is and is childishly rebelling against it all the while remaining in the selfsame fake plastic pretentious celebrity world. She can’t have it both ways.
now i want to adopt charlie!
or at least see photos… 🙂
I don’t have any photos of Charlie! But he is a little cutie, and he knows that he’s my mom’s favorite. He’s white with some pretty gray blobs. He has a mousy little face and he always looks kind of teary and weepy. He was born that way.
The Charlie story was better than the Gaga story. =)
And what is the big deal about saying retarded? When I was a wee tot (lol) there was a thrift store in town called – wait for it – The Retarded Children’s Thrift Store. Now and days most people use the term developmentally disabled and the only time the term retarded comes up is when discussing how severe one’s disability is. I dunno, and don’t hate me, but – I have heard lots of MR/DD people call each other retarded as a joke, and no one got upset about it.
Oh and an edit – stop being so easily offended people! Lots of us say things that sound mean or cruel, and we never intended it that way. We’re all reading a blog with the word bitchy in the title =)
She seems to have Turrets GaGaBlahBlah Syndrome. She’s retarded.
Amazing how hypocritical she is. She advocates love and acceptance for all and then uses such a degrading term.
My cat is named Charlie too, and he is the best! And my parents have an evil girl cat named Daisy. Weird!
@Kaiser #31
If I was getting the crap beat out of me all day by a homophobe who was using my litter box, I’d look teary and weapy as well.
Anyone who does not understand why the use of the word “retarded” in this flippant, derogatory way is offensive clearly has never had anyone they love meet the clinical definition of retarded (which, incidentally, is not just down syndrome for the uneducated commentators). I don’t care if you work with people with disabilities or whatever else you say to explain why you’re so enlightened- it doesn’t matter. This is hurtful to those of us who love someone who has mental disabilities and that’s all you need to know. If gay people (validly) get to define the language which offends them, then metally disabled people- the weakest and most vulernable among us- as well as those of us family members who give our lives to take care of them surely get this same right.
who would read about gaga when there is an article about radiohead on page 12?
Lady Gaga, you should really watch the way you express yourself.
When confronted with plagiarizing music and attempting to pass it off as your own, using the R word does not help your case of being a civil rights activist and an original artist.
The self titled champion of the different and the picked on has revealed herself to be an insecure bully. How can anyone forget the word all the kids in special ed were called?
She is slowly fading away….
What Farfromhome said.
Her latest album is a total mess the cover, the shoots are UGLY. The music isn’t that much it sounds OLD, it’s like an ’80s something single, so Lady Gaga needs to stop with the coke, dump her douche boyfriend and go on holiday for a while.
She is just so unattractive, unoriginal and untalented.
Gaga knows she’s a carbon copy of Madonna or she wouldn’t have gotten so upset.
I love the Charlie story! Poor kitty.
I have two cats. The one I’ve had the longest is a tiger striped cat named Tommy. He was rescued from an abandoned building in the Bronx by a group that normally rescues pit bulls. They found him, lone cat, living among a bunch of discarded fighter dogs. I don’t know why they didn’t attack him. Maybe they raised him.
By the time I first saw him, he was in a box on union square with a sign that said “emergency, needs home now!”. Since the group that found him usually only takes dogs, they had no place to put him. So, I took him in and he’s been my baby ever since.
You would think a cat like that would be tough as nails, right? Wrong! Tommy cries when I’m not home and is scared of EVERYTHING. It’s raining? Terrified. The tv is on? Hiding under the bed. My boyfriend is over? Tommy has his claws out.
I thought that maybe getting a second cat would help him socialize a little. So, when a friend of friend got evicted and couldn’t keep her cat, Gio, I took him in. Gio is a fat, gray, senior (he’s 13 years old!) kitty. He looks like the most innocent creature on earth. Plus, he super friendly and just as affectionate as a dog. But, he’s a also a huge bully. Gio came in and immediately took over all of Tommy’s favorite spots and banished him to the closet in about five seconds flat.
They’ve been living together for two years now and have finally started to get along. But, the first year was total Charlie/Daisy territory!
Oh yeah, and as for the main story here, Lady Gaga’s a hypocritical idiot. Is anyone surprised?
I am more bothered with what is happening to Charlie than I am with what the knock off saying Retarded…
FREE CHARLIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That cover is so f**g awful
I like Gaga’s songs a lot better than Madonna’s songs, and I like her voice better, too.
What many are missing on here who say they don’t think the word retarded is so bad is the point that Gaga has a platform in print and in her concerts where she repeatedly tells her fans to believe in themselves and love themselves just as they are and you were born this way and blah, blah, and then she uses the word retarded. Yes, it is offensive. And I guarantee you she has many fans who probably are developmentally disabled. it doesn’t mean they don’t listen to music.
She needs to stop whining. She can’t take that she is criticized because she thinks everyone should think she is a music genius. Madonna, for all her faults, was as tough as they come and took all the hits against her. Gaga needs to go back to being fun. I miss fun Gaga.
And the whole God gave her the music, ughhhh. Get off the coke, Gaga.
Poor little Charlie. I love cats and I just want to give him a hug!
@DetRiotgirl I loved your story about your cats. Good for you taking in abandoned animals that needed a home. The world needs more people like you to help our furry friends.
Gaga becomes more and more irrelevant everyday. I wish she would go hide in a closet and stay there.
When I saw the top half of the photo I thought she was wearing a nursing shirt, I had t-shirt like that when I was breastfeeding, so convenient.
pleese make her go away, she is just plain boring and sounds dumb as hell. madonna at least always seemed to be a bit smarter….
I’m more fascinated with the kitty stories than this burned out “artist”‘s high-jinks.
It’s more interesting to hear about Charlie’s drama and his daily life as a gay cat; I would love to see a photo of him and of that bully, Daisy.
i’m not offended by the used of the word retarded but i am offended when it’s said that she’s 25. there’s no way in hell she’s 25.
that being said, i’m in love with charlie. <3
Sorry, but I say “retarded” and it’s just a word. I don’t connect the word with people who have true mental disabilities and would never say it to them. People are way too PC/sensitive nowadays. Are we going to get offended by the swear “bitch” now?
How insulting of her to even think the public is stupid enough to believe anything she says. She is ridiculous!
@ Kaiser (and other cat “owners” like myself):
Speaking of Lady Gaga — who makes me wonder if I’ll be lucky enough to live to see the day she won’t be relevant anymore — yesterday I read a heartbreaking story about one of her fans alledgely murdering the family’s cat, ripping its stomach and using its blood to emulate some Gaga’s outfits that have blood smeared all over (the cat’s liver was found in her make-up box). She was going to attend Gaga’s concert.
I’m in no way suggesting Gaga deliberately incites that kind of behaviour, but her constant need to outrage people — and the fact that she frequently tries to achieve that by associating violence with being “edgy” — does have something to do with this girl’s attitude who must be mentally disturbed anyway. However, mentally ill or not, I don’t think she would have done that hadn’t she seen her role model/idol/favorite singer doing “cool” things with (fake) blood.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/8238052/lady-gaga-fan-kills-cat-for-blood
EDIT:
I’m deeply sorry for being a Debbie Downer here but I had to get this out of my system — and somewhat share my pain.
I cannot belive that she used that word :S She’s such a hypocrite
She ”defending” one group of people and then she says something like that
Bitch !
Having said that above, I’d also like to add that I have two cats: three-year-old Bartholomew Jojo Simpson II a.k.a. The Bunny Kidnapper and one-year-old Titus Pullo (who I unsuccessfully tried to name “Vincent” after Cassel and Van Gogh — found him starving in the streets while coming back from a class, he had Cassel’s “inverted triangle” face, and really big blue eyes, especially because he was skin and bones when I picked him).
Back in 2002, my sister found a female kitten being literally eaten alive by ants (in the streets too) and brought her home. Her name is Preta (means black girl in Portuguese) and she’s one moody bitch. Bartholomew’s favorite activity is to stalk her and jump right in front of her when she least expects it.
There’s also a dog named Polie, a genuine Brazilian mutt who my sister adopted from (some sort of) a shelter here and a stray cat that “crashes” here whenever he wants (we put food and water for him).
Definition of the word Derivative: lacking originality..see Lady Gaga
Ugh. She believes she’s God’s gift. The pious/pretentious attitude about her own music and relevancy makes me want to junk-punch her. Please go the hell away, already. Fugly mannequin.
I like GaGa enough, but let’s be honest, she is referencing the Madonna Handbook daily.
I normally don’t mind the word “retard” too much even though I never personally use it but comming from someone like Caca who claims to be some sort of messiah for all minority groups it is really, really grating. Also, the F word every couple of words? Bitch, that stopped being edgy around 1980. It just makes her look desperate.
I think the song does sound like she was HEAVILY influenced by Madonna, whether it was intentional or not. I think the second single REALLY sucks. And I hate this stupid thing is she is doing to her cheeks all the time lately. I’m over it. It’s all too contrived.
You are saying that word to “them.” You are saying it to me and anyone else who has a loved one who is mentally disabled. Words have meaning, power, and consequences.
celebitchy is my fav!i love those cheesy lines and the whole bitchy attitude.but please leave gaga out of this.she is truly f*****g smart.
A coworker of mine was playing Madonna’s ‘GHV2’ album the other day, and while I’m only a passing fan of Madonna, as I was listening it really made me realize that everything Gaga’s done has already been done (by Madonna and others) and done better. Madonna’s schtick was sexy with a side helping of shock/weird. Gaga is shock/weird with a side helping of sex. Religious imagery? Done. Sex? Done. Cone boobs? Done. Embracing the gay community? Done. Good dance beats? Done and done. “Alejandro” was such a rip-off of “La Isla Bonita” it was comical. And “Born this Way” is just a blatant rip-off of “Express Yourself” it’s just plain sad and pathetic. Does Gaga really think anyone over the age of 13 actually believes it isn’t??
*Edit* My husband just reminded me that Gaga’s argument is reminiscent of Vanilla Ice’s when he got caught sampling “Pressure” by Mercury and Bowie. How he was all, “Nuh-uh! Listen to it–it’s TOTALLY not the same!” 😀
AHAHAHAH Daisy rocks!
Gaga is a trashy new version of Madonna’s old self. She can’t fool anyone, the “retarded” one is her.
Alejandro is a rip off of Ace of Base’s “Never gonna say Im sorry” (as well!).
I havent heard any songs of gagas since her first 2 singles– I dont listen to radio anymore; but I did play Yankovic’s cover of Born this Way and if THAT isnt a blatant rip off of Express Yourself, I dont know what the hell is. Like, to the T mirror of that song.
Is it REALLY that hard to not use a word in public which offends others? Really? If Gaga was truly creative, she would find a better way to “express” herself. 🙂 Same goes for people defending the continued use of this word. If it offends people, why do it? Is your use of this word that important to you? Really? Find another expression. It’s not that hard.
Further, it’s funny that both Gaga and Aniston have made a platform on tolerance, etc. Aniston is on the Lilli Claire Foundation, which is against the defamtion of those w/disabilities, and Gaga has been all about the acceptance of those w/differences. Let’s hope that Gaga addresses it rather than sweeping it under the rug and pretending it never happened like Aniston.
It bears remembering that Madonna is hardly original herself. “Express” blatantly rips of “Respect Yourself” by Staple Singers. Gaga’s image is very different from Madonna’s and her talent level is on a completely higher scale as well. Madonna is more beautiful, sure, but Gaga works her unusual looks well and I appreciate that she’s not a cookie cutter beauty. Gaga embraces being one of the weird ones. Madonna would never do anything to herself to make her look or sound strange. Gaga’s just out there. Takes much greater risks artistically, commercially.
It’s the euphemism treadmill: ‘moron’ > ‘idiot’ > ‘retarded’ > ‘special’ > ‘exceptional.’ All of these words were once considered inoffensive and euphemistic terms for mental disability. The first three words have developed into insults. ‘Idiot’ and ‘moron’ are now completely disassociated from their connection with disability and ‘retarded’ is in the process–give it another couple of decades. Perhaps ‘special’ is on its way to an insult as well. ‘Exceptional,’ as in ‘children with exceptionalities’ is, I think, the latest euphemism. No judgment here–that’s just language and human nature.
I definitely mean no offense, but you know what’s retarded? That album cover.
I don’t really care about the Gaga/Madonna thing, but, I honestly don’t get how ”retarded” is an insult.
Just because someone uses that word, it doesn’t mean it’s a dig at people who are inflicted by it. People need to lighten up.
The tune is IDENTICAL. (As is her thefted regurg Alejandro) But she’s not copying.
If you’re going to lie right in my face like that, I AM going to punch you.
Cannot STAND her anymore.
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
You be the judge!
If any of you munsters still think she’s original after looking at this,your more coked up then she is.
@Alexandra – no she is not smart. If she’d have been smart with her PR she would have said something along the lines of:
“Yeah, people often compare me to Madonna. I guess our minds work along similar lines. It wasn’t intentional.”
or
“I’m a big fan of Madonna. It wasn’t an intentional homage, but I love Express Yourself so I guess it must have slipped out subconsciously.”
Instead all this blubbing and cursing like a methed out ho in denial just shows that she’s NOT the marketing genius some people think she is. She’s almost as much a product of other people’s hard work as Britney is.
Kristen Stewart called Twilight fans retarded 2 years ago and people defended her.
I love the “use ___A___ instead of ___B___” game. All you are doing is calling the A’s B’s. Are they suggesting that retards are ridiculous?
All that, and I cant even stand this idiot.
I think she tries too hard… to copy Madonna. No, like, she tries too hard to be different and nonconformist but she ends up being/looking like a copycat. I don’t like her or her music. I think most of her songs are “cheap” and she is a weird and mean person. She seems rude and neurotic.
I’m a bit surprised by how reaction. In the end of the video ‘Born This Way’, you see Gaga with a ‘space’ between her front teeth (which is an obvious reference to Madonna, before she fixed her’s.)
I would’ve had *some* respect for her if she had owned up to it, or even said the song was paying ‘homage’ to Madonna. I’m really taken aback by her response here.
—-
Poor Charlie!! I’ve had countless guinea pigs over the years, but have yet to come across one that I believed was gay. (Strange, as they’re ALL boys. Sure, there’s some posturing, but that’s not the same as gayness. xD)
Lady GAGA just needs to put her penis between her legs and ask for forgiveness…lol. It would be one thing to call it a mistake, but she keeps doing it! She’s done it twice so far! She must be related to Milli Vanilli…lol. Time to pack up the microphone and go back being a man…lol
@dizzybenny: That was AMAZING! Every lil Gaga fan needs to see that (altho they’ll still prolly be in denial and go on and on about how talented and “different” she is).
#57 – I believe that sick woman is truly mentally ill, no one could inspire that type of action. Sickening and disgusting, that act. I felt ill when I read that story, too, and hugged my cat Gus a little harder.
DetriotGrl- great cat stories, and I love that you adopted a senior kitty!!!
I think Gaga is the ugliest thing on TV. She looks like Afghan dog. Her nose could take your eye out. I don’t get it . She steals EVERYTHING from Madonna and Marilyn Manson. So her face looks like a train wreck but her fans pretend that she is pretty and ORIGINAL???????