Stephanie Mills has branded Lady Gaga a 'culture vulture' and said the pop star owes her an apology over an encounter at a New York fashion photoshoot, where Mills claims she was left feeling disrespected after singing for the singer.
The Broadway and R&B star alleged that Gaga failed to acknowledge her performance of Home before people accompanying the pop star instructed her and her party to delete photographs taken during the encounter. Mills also said she was not paid for the appearance.
Mills Claims Gaga's Team Ordered Photos Deleted
Mills made the allegations in a preview of her appearance on The Jason Lee Show, recalling an encounter she said took place years ago. She said a former manager approached her with a request to surprise Gaga during a fashion photoshoot in New York because Home, the song Mills made famous in The Wiz, was reportedly the singer's favourite.
Although Mills initially questioned why she should perform for Gaga, she eventually agreed. She recalled arriving at the photoshoot, where Gaga was accompanied by a small black dog and other people, before singing the song for her.
Mills said Gaga's reaction was not what she had expected from someone who supposedly admired her music. 'She didn't smile. She didn't do anything,' Mills recalled, adding: 'She looked at me like I had two heads.'
Mills also said the arrangement included a fashion photoshoot of her own in exchange for performing, rather than payment for her appearance. She said she completed the performance and took photographs, believing the pictures were part of the agreed arrangement.
However, Mills alleged that the situation took an uncomfortable turn as she and her party prepared to leave. She claimed they were stopped near an elevator and instructed to delete all the photographs taken during the session.
'They did not let us leave until they saw every picture being deleted,' Mills alleged, describing the experience as 'very disrespectful.' Her account does not establish who made the decision or whether Gaga personally knew about the alleged demand.
Why Mills Calls Gaga a 'Culture Vulture'
When asked to explain her criticism, Mills linked her experience to Gaga's professional relationships with Black men. 'That's why I say she's a culture vulture, because she was managed correct by black men,' she said.
The term is commonly used to criticise people accused of benefiting from another community's cultural contributions without showing appropriate respect or recognition. Mills did not elaborate further on the accusation in the preview, and her characterisation should be understood as her personal opinion rather than an established finding of cultural appropriation.
Mills has a longstanding place in Black musical and theatrical history. She originated the role of Dorothy in the original Broadway production of The Wiz, which opened at the Majestic Theatre in New York on 5 January 1975, and her performance helped establish Home as one of the musical's best-known songs.
Despite the years that have allegedly passed since the encounter, Mills made clear that she wants an apology. Addressing Gaga directly, she said: 'And I hope you remember what you did.'
She concluded with a pointed demand: 'And I feel like you owe me an apology,' Mills said.
The allegations remain Mills' account of the encounter, and the preview does not include a response from Gaga or her representatives. Mills has not specified exactly when the meeting took place, leaving the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident unclear.
