Lady Gaga has long been one of the most recognizable names in the music industry, navigating the peaks and valleys of fame with unmatched artistry.
However, despite her global success, she recently opened up about the true “horror” of superstardom—the struggle to maintain her own sense of self.
During a candid discussion on The Howard Stern Show this past Tuesday, Lady Gaga, now 38, provided insight into the personal meaning behind her new song Perfect Celebrity. The track, an emotionally charged reflection on her relationship with fame, delves into the complexities of identity in an industry that often demands artists mold themselves to public expectations.
“I think in a way, when I was writing, I was feeling like there was the real me and there was the clone me,” Lady Gaga shared. “It’s one of the angrier songs I’ve written because it’s coming from a place of frustration.”
The Poker Face hitmaker confessed that she was angry at herself for willingly stepping into an industry that can strip artists of their individuality.
“The song is almost a form of rebellion against myself,” she explained. “It’s like a reckless attempt to process everything—how I feel about it all, how I’ve changed because of it.”
When Howard Stern pressed her about what she meant by the “horror” of fame, Lady Gaga was brutally honest.
“There was a time when I lived for the rush of being in the public eye, constantly performing and existing in this orbit of attention,” she admitted. “But eventually, it burned me out. I started valuing what others thought of me more than who I was when no one was looking.”
Acknowledging that it was ultimately her responsibility to redefine her self-worth, Lady Gaga said the pressure of constant scrutiny led to a distorted perception of herself.
“It actually feels freeing to have things not be about me all the time,” she reflected. “I love being there for the people I care about, supporting others rather than always being the center of everything.”
In Perfect Celebrity, Lady Gaga captures these emotions with striking lyrics, portraying herself as a “human doll” crafted to meet the expectations of others.
“I’m made of plastic like a human doll / You push and pull me, I don’t hurt at all / I talk in circles, ‘cause my brain, it aches / You say, ‘I love you,’ I disintegrate.”
Another haunting line underscores the theme further: “I’ve become a notorious being / Find my clone, she’s asleep on the ceiling.”
Speaking with InStyle, Lady Gaga previously explained that the song reflects “the idea that we all have our real selves and then the clone version we present to the world.”
For Lady Gaga, stepping away from that artificial projection and rediscovering her authentic self has been the most rewarding encore of her career.
