Pop Base: Lady Gaga Speaks Out About Internet Rumors, Victoria's Secret Angels to Return, SNL Unveils Season 50 Line-up, and Much More!

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Lady Gaga Reveals She Never Spoke Out Against Transgender Rumors So Others Didn’t Feel Shame

Lady Gaga, the pop icon renowned for her boundary-pushing artistry, revealed a poignant anecdote during her appearance on the second episode of "What's Next? The Future With Bill Gates." In the early days of her meteoric rise, Gaga was plagued by persistent rumors suggesting she was actually a man. These unfounded claims dominated headlines, and the singer faced relentless questioning about her gender identity.

In a now-iconic moment, Gaga shut down one such inquiry during a CNN interview in 2011, famously stating, "Why the hell am I going to waste my time and give a press release about whether or not I have a penis? My fans don't care and neither do I."  

Reflecting on this tumultuous period, Gaga explained to Gates, "When I was in my early 20s, there was this pervasive rumor circulating that I was a man. I was travelling the world, performing shows, and promoting my music, and it seemed like every single interview I did, this topic would come up. They'd present me with doctored images and ask, 'There are rumors that you're a man. What do you have to say about that?'"

Rather than addressing the rumors directly, Gaga chose a more strategic approach. "I didn't feel like a victim of that lie," she explained. "And I thought, what about a kid who's being accused of something similar? They might look to a public figure like me for guidance. I've been in situations where addressing a rumor could have negative consequences for others. So, instead, I tried to be thought-provoking and disruptive in a different way. I used the misinformation as a springboard for creating something even more impactful."

Victoria's Secret Resurrects Fashion Show Amidst Controversy and Anticipation

Five years after its controversial cancellation, Victoria's Secret is making a triumphant return to the runway this October. The iconic lingerie brand first teased the show on May 15th sparking both excitement and scepticism.

The brand's decision to resurrect the show follows a series of controversies and declining viewership in recent years. Executives faced allegations of misconduct, sales plummeted, and critics increasingly decried the narrow beauty standards perpetuated by the "angel" concept.

In an attempt to address these concerns, Victoria's Secret has promised a revamped show that is more inclusive and representative. The brand has stated that they have "read the comments and heard you," suggesting a commitment to learning from past mistakes.

The upcoming fashion show is set to take place on October 15th and will feature a star-studded lineup of models, including Gigi Hadid and Tyra Banks. For the first time, the show will also include three female performers, adding a new dimension to the event.

The lineup kicked off with headliner the legendary Cher, who was revealed in two stunning portraits showcasing her signature style. The following day, the brand added another Grammy-winning talent to the mix: Tyla. Her inclusion further solidified the show's commitment to featuring diverse and celebrated artists. Just a day later, Victoria's Secret dropped a major surprise by announcing the K-pop sensation Lisa as the final musical guest. 

SNL Unveils Line-up For First Five Shows of Season 50. 

Jean Smart is set to kick off Saturday Night Live’s fiftieth-season celebrations as the host of the first episode of the season next week. Smart, hot on the heels of her Emmy win, will host the show alongside musician Jelly Roll. 

 Comedian Nate Bargatze, who previously hosted the show last year, will return on October 5th with the British rock band Coldplay as his musical guest.

The following week, on October 12th, pop sensation Ariana Grande will take the stage alongside Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks. This marks Ariana Grande’s first time hosting Saturday Night Live since 2016. 

On October 19th, ‘Beetlejuice’ star Michael Keaton will host, with Billie Eilish serving as the musical guest.

Finally, SNL alum John Mulaney will return to host on November 2nd, for a pre-election special, joined by breakout artist Chappell Roan.

New Music Friday

It’s still a woman’s world, by the way.

Katy Perry’s new album 143 is finally here. Featuring 21 Savage, Kim Petras, Doechii, JID and numerous tracks produced by Dr. Luke, the album takes an interesting approach at this point in Perry’s career. “ALL THE LOVE” was a standout on our first listen and its transition into “NIRVANA” was actually pretty impressive. “WONDER” was also another track we enjoyed. Daisy, Perry’s daughter, sings a little on it. It’s a touching ending.

Bon Iver’s new song “S P E Y S I D E” is from their upcoming EP SABLE, which comes out October 18. Intimate as every song by the indie folk band, it’s a wonderful travel of acoustic guitar and strong emotion. “It serves to suffer / Make a hole in my foot,” Justin Vernon sings.

Lizzy McAlpine released “Pushing It Down and Praying” which comes from the deluxe edition of her recent album Older. She’s cleverly named the new version Older (and Wiser) and it releases October 4. On this song, McAlpine gets pretty straightforward. “I’m in bed, laying down, naked / You’re inside of me,” she sings. It’s a neat song overall, and a great preview of the deluxe.

P1Harmony released their EP SAD SONG. These songs sound notably fresh, and the melodies are neatly captivating. The title song is especially catchy. “Feel like another sad song / Everyone dancing to this mad song,” they sing.

Future put out his new mixtape called MIXTAPE PLUTO. “OCEAN” might have the singer at his best lyrics yet. “When I send ‘em / I know they gon’ tell sh*t / Out the kennel / My dog like a hell-pit,” is a brilliant line. We also found “PLUTOSKI” to be a diverting take from the singer, and we’ve actually had this song on repeat a couple of times already this morning.

Alessi Rose’s new single “oh my” is really nice, and her voice is pretty charming. “I’ve been loving him to pass the time,” she sings in the chorus’ beginning. We’ll certainly be keeping a closer eye on her career going forward.

Grace VanderWaal released a new song. “What’s Left Of Me” is a drop-dead beautiful endeavor from the singer. She describes the song’s feeling “as though you’re a breathing legacy of a fallen relationship” and VanderWaal’s wondrous vocal effort after the chorus puts you right in that emotional state. You almost feel yourself making it through the heartbreak. Our favorite release this week goes to her.

—Dawson Therre

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ICYMI: 

• Earth is set to temporarily gain another moon on September 29th. The asteroid, known as a ‘mini-moon’, is expected to make a single orbit journey around Earth, ending on November 29th.

• Jennie has revealed that she felt connected to ‘THE IDOL’ because she saw similarities between the show and her personal life. In an interview with Harpers Bazaar, she stated, ‘Having the idea of this evil person coming in and trying to manipulate, I’ve been in that world my whole life.’

• Sabrina Carpenter is set to feature on the 25th anniversary edition of Christina Aguilera’s debut album.

• Kesha has debuted a new version of her hit, ‘TiK ToK’, with Diddy Lyric change over on her TikTok, the new lyrics are, ‘Wake up in the morning like F*ck P. Diddy’. 

• ‘Emilia Perez’ has been selected as France’s official submission for the Best International Feature category at the 2025 Oscars.

• A new teaser has been unveiled for Season 7 of ‘Black Mirror’, set for release in 2025 - revealing cast members.