Lady Gaga Bloody VMAs Performance Accused Of “Sensationalizing” Suicide
A suicide prevention interest group has slammed Lady Gaga’s performance at the 26th Annual MTV Video Music Awards for sending out an “irresponsible” message to young fans.
The quirky star shocked the audience by faking her own death in a gory onstage stunt. The outrageous star collapsed dripping in “blood” during her live performance of her single “Paparazzi” at the VMAs in New York City over the weekend.
Fans were stunned as Gaga pretended to stab herself in the chest and appeared lifeless as she dangled from a rope.
PAPYRUS, which aims to prevent suicide among young people and promote wellness, is calling the star out on her behavior.
“This act is not cool – sensationalizing and romanticizing suicide is irresponsible,” a spokesman for the organization said Tuesday. “Celebrities, who are often idolized by young people, need to be more aware of the impact that such acts can have on vulnerable young people.”
The breakout star walked away with the Best New Artist, Best Art Direction, and Best Special Effects Prizes at Sunday’s ceremony.
Written by Castina on September 15th, 2009 | Tagged as: Lady Gaga
On September 15th 2009, Vicki wrote:
Lady Gaga obviously likes to shock an audience. She has clearly done what she set out to do.
On September 15th 2009, nick wrote:
erm dude lmao, she didnt pretend to stab herself, paparazzi is about how fame can cause death, shes sending out a message to young people that The Fame is a tough path and not everyone should go down it. Like princess diana died because of fame, jesus you guys just cry about anyone whos doing so amazingly well!
GaGa your awesome! <3
On September 15th 2009, Christopher Jenkins wrote:
Dear PAPYRUS,
While I appreciate the work you do to further your cause and help young people, trying to get publicity based on Lady GaGa's name is totally ridiculous. Especially when you totally and completely misrepresent her performance. It just makes you look dumb!
How is she "glamorizing suicide" when she is NOT EVEN depicting suicide? She did not kill herself, she was killed by the fame. It's about how a desire for fame can make a person crazy — kill a person — literally or metaphorically, and also about how the media never stops hounding celebrities even after death (hence the sound of cameras at flashing after she rises up).
If you knew anything about GaGa you'd know that her message is 100% positive. It's about love, celebration, and inner fame. GaGa believes that "The Fame" is something anyone can have; it's a sense of self worth that you don't need to be famous to have.
Paparazzi is a song about desperation and stalking. It's about wanting a boy or fame so bad that you become a monster.
No kid in their right mind is going to think this has anything to do with suicide. And if children are too young and don't understand that this is art, maybe their parents should explain things to them when something like this comes on tv — or just not let them see it in the first place.
There are plenty more violent things all over, and yet you choose to call out Lady GaGa (most likely cause you'll get a lot of press from riding her coattails). Sometimes art isn't pretty. Sometimes emotions aren't pretty. Saying that GaGa shouldn't express herself in the manner that she chooses is censorship, plain and simple.
It's ridiculous to me that a message that is potentially inspiring and transcendent it being peddled as a cheap attempt to promote suicide. It's exactly the opposite!
Please retract your comments.
Thank you.
On September 15th 2009, A. wrote:
You've got to be kidding me. First, people who want to kill themselves aren't going to be pushed over the edge by seeing fake blood at a stage performance. They're already disturbed. Second, I really doubt suicide is what this performance is about. It's not like she took out a knife and started slashing her wrists. Most importantly, the media should never be responsible for protecting people's delicate sensibilities. This is performance art. These people are just like the censorship goons who claim video game violence is making kids act out. Ridiculous. Grow up, PAPYRUS.
On September 15th 2009, CaseyC wrote:
What???? She did not pretend to stab herself!! where are they getting this from? Watch the video. She begins bleeding after playing the piano. There was no stabbing instrument or motions. I was left wondering, Did the paparazzi kill her?
On September 18th 2009, Pat Kelly wrote:
Christopher Jenkins you nailed it on the head congrats dude. If anyone is so foolish to think it was a suicide depiction, then they should not be posting comments. I respect Lady Gaga with the highest amount of admiration because she made a statement about the media and it's potential outcomes due to excessive invasiveness. Anyone who cant see that she is a wonderfully eccentric artist and entertainer and not a problem should just leave it alone.