Madonna has stirred up quite a storm on social media with a cryptic post hinting at being "copied," mere days after Lady Gaga's headline-grabbing performance at Coachella. Has the Queen of Pop reignited her long-standing rivalry with Gaga? Fans are buzzing with speculations, thinking precisely that.
The saga dates back to 2012 when Gaga's chart-topping single "Born This Way" was accused of mirroring Madonna's legendary 1989 hit "Express Yourself" almost uncannily. Madonna herself famously branded Gaga's track as "reductive," sending shockwaves among fans and critics alike.
Years have rolled by, but it seems Madonna has revisited this contentious past. On Wednesday, she posted an image on Instagram, accompanied by the words: "Did you catch so-and-so copying you? Heaven forbid a woman finds inspiration in another." The singer swiftly followed it up with a caption reading: "I spy you, I cherish you. You're killing it, darlings!" along with a kiss emoji.
This post has sparked wild speculations among fans, many believing it was a dig at Lady Gaga, particularly given her recent Coachella spectacle. Madonna's comments have ignited reactions from both camps. While some fans perceive her post as a supportive nod towards female artists drawing inspiration from one another, others contend it's a pointed reference to Gaga.
Gaga's diehard fans were swift to call out Madonna for her past criticisms, wondering where this supportive stance was during the height of their spat. "Where was this encouragement during the 'Born This Way' era?" queried one fan, while another remarked, "It took her decades to change her perspective… she should have supported Gaga when she was just starting out, not belittled her." "Is this a Lady Gaga shade post??" added another user online. Meanwhile, Madonna's defenders took to Instagram to voice their support, posting comments like "Take that, copycat @ladygaga!" and "Gaga always copying you. So done with this!"
Despite igniting a fierce debate, Madonna restricted comments on her Instagram post, further stoking the flames of speculation. Lady Gaga's Coachella appearance seemed to pay homage to past musical and fashion icons, including Björk and Grace Jones.
Interestingly, Madonna had earlier expressed more supportive sentiments towards Gaga during a January 2024 performance in Toronto. "I wouldn't fancy being mistaken for Lady Gaga," she quipped, quickly adding, "No offense to Lady Gaga. I adore her. I adore anyone shorter than me."
