Nationwide — Stephanie Mills says that Lady Gaga is a “culture vulture,” accusing the pop star of disrespecting her during a surprise performance years ago. The Grammy-winning R&B singer recalled the uncomfortable encounter during an appearance on The Jason Lee Show, where she explained why the experience still bothers her. She claims Gaga’s reaction left her feeling unappreciated and believes the pop star owes her an apology.
The 69-year-old singer said a former manager once approached her with a request to surprise Gaga with a performance of “Home,” her signature song from the Broadway musical The Wiz. Gaga was reportedly a fan of the song and was participating in a fashion photo shoot in New York City. Although Mills initially turned down the request, she eventually agreed to perform.
However, Mills claimed Gaga did not welcome her warmly when she arrived. She recalled that the pop star did not smile or show much reaction to her presence. The encounter became even more upsetting when Mills learned that she would not receive payment for the appearance. Instead, the arrangement included a photo shoot with Gaga’s photographer. Mills said she completed the performance and participated in the shoot, but members of Gaga’s team later instructed her to delete the pictures. She alleged that the group would not let her leave until they watched her erase the images. She did not identify the people involved but said the incident added to her frustration.
According to Complex, Mills addressed Gaga directly during the interview and made it clear that she wanted an acknowledgment of what happened. “I hope you watch. And I hope you remember what you did,” she said, adding that she believed the pop star owed her an apology. Her comments also reflect her history of speaking out when she believes artists fail to respect Black musical influences. In 2018, she criticized Sam Smith after the singer made dismissive remarks about Michael Jackson, accusing him of cultural appropriation.
Mills built her career through her work in R&B and musical theater. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she originated the role of Dorothy in the 1975 Broadway production of The Wiz. Her performance of “Home” became one of her best-known recordings, and she later earned five No. 1 R&B hits. She also won a Grammy Award for “Never Knew Love Like This Before.”
Meanwhile, Gaga has faced separate criticism over the inclusivity of her beauty brand, Haus Labs. Beauty influencer Golloria George questioned the brand’s liquid bronzer shades earlier this year, arguing that the three darkest colors looked too red or orange for deeper complexions. Gaga apologized to George on Oct. 1, acknowledging that the company had mishandled the criticism. Haus Labs also paused the launch and expanded the planned range from six shades to 11. Mills’ latest comments add another public debate about cultural respect and accountability to the pop star’s recent headlines.