Madonna’s press duties at the Venice Film Festival this week are making plenty of headlines – but for all the wrong reasons.
Just hours after the cringe-worthy video of the 53-year-old mocking a fan’s floral gift with her microphone switched on was leaked online, it has been claimed that Madonna gave a less-than-friendly sound bite about her one-time pal Lady Gaga.
Belgian magazine Le Soir reports that they asked the Material Girl a question about how she feels about her adoring fans, including Lady Gaga.
Bad press day: Following her ungracious remarks about a fan’s floral gift earlier today, a magazine has claimed Madonna has ridiculed Lady Gaga
According the magazine, the singer-turned-director replied: ‘As for Lady Gaga, I have no comment on her obsessions related to me, because I do not know if it is based on something profound or superficial.’
Madonna’s spokesperson Liz Rosenberg has denied the quote, telling Mail Online: ‘This is not true. Madonna did not say anything negative about Lady Gaga during her press conference,’ – but not before the second round of negative press for the star today went global.
Lady Gaga is outspoken on her admiration for Madonna, but the two singers have shared a chequered history.
Diva showdown: According to Le Soir, Madonna said ‘I have no comment on (Gaga’s) obsessions related to me, because I do not know if it is based on something profound or superficial’
Two years ago, Madonna appeared to give Gaga her seal of approval when they appeared in a skit together on Saturday Night Live sending up the supposed rivalry between them.
At the time, Gaga said: ‘We’re both Italian-American women, we both started out in the New York underground scene – and we both became famous when we dyed our hair blonde.
‘I think what Madonna and I share is that we’re both fearless, we both have a lot of nerve.’
Frenemies: Madonna appeared to give Gaga her seal of approval by performing with her in a skit on Saturday Night Live in 2009
But the relationship soured in February this year when Gaga released her single Born This Way.
Fans and critics immediately pointed out the glaring similarities between her song and Madonna’s 1989 hit Express Yourself – and they weren’t the only ones who noticed.
Not long after the single’s release, a video of Madonna performing Express Yourself at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards was posted on Madonna’s official YouTube page.
Gaga furiously denied she had copied her idol’s work, telling NME magazine during an interview: ‘I am not stupid enough to put out a record and be that moronic.
Copycat: Gaga was accused of copying Madonna’s hit song Express Yourself for her single Born This Way
‘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?
She added: ‘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.’
During a subsequent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the 25-year-old appeared keen to smooth things over, telling the host she had been in touch with Madonna.
Rejection: Britney Spears rejected Gaga’s attempt at an onstage smooch, recreating Britney’s kiss with Madonna, at the VMAs last week
‘I got an e-mail from her people and her, sending me their love and complete support on behalf of the single and if the queen says it shall be, then it shall be,’ she said.
But Madonna’s rep denied the olive branch had been offered, telling the Hollywood Reporter at the time that they were unaware of any email.
Today Madonna’s ungracious behaviour was made public when she complained about a gift of hydrangeas a fan gave to her – not knowing her microphone was switched on.
After smiling and thanking the fan, Madonna rolled her eyes and told her assistant, ‘I absolutely loathe hydrangeas. He obviously doesn’t know that.’
