Lady Gaga: Stop Glamorizing Bulimia!
Pop star Lady Gaga once struggled with bulimia, but now she is glamorizing the eating disorder. In a March 13 performance at the South by Southwest Music Festival, performance artist Millie Brown intentionally vomited green liquid on Lady Gaga's cleavage, then crawled on top of her and vomited again, this time black goo. The pop star then continued her performance covered in the disgusting liquid.
This stunt was clearly intended to be provocative, tasteless and to create a media buzz around Lady Gaga. She has pulled similar stunts in the past, for example when she wore meat and fur garments to provoke animal rights supporters. But in this case, she should be more sensitive, having suffered from bulimia in the past. Hundreds of young women die from eating disorders every year, and many of her fans are at an age where women begin to develop these disorders. Lady Gaga needs to recognize the damage she could cause with these types of stunts.
If Lady Gaga thinks these stunts are at all original, she is very wrong. Punk acts have incorporated vomiting and other gross displays into their performances since the early 70s at least. But unlike those acts, Lady Gaga intends to be a role model, especially for young people. Glamorizing bulimia will only harm her fans, and considerably lowers her music and her message. Please sign the petition to ask Lady Gaga to end her professional relationship with Millie Brown and to stop using imagery that could trigger fans struggling with eating disorders!
We, the undersigned, are concerned about your SXSW show on March 13, in which you glamorized bulimia by letting Millie Brown vomit on you, then continued to perform covered in vomit.
We understand that this stunt, like your past stunts wearing meat and then fur, was intended to be provocative and to create a media buzz. But in this case, you should be more sensitive, considering your past struggles with eating disorders. As you know, hundreds of young women die from eating disorders every year, and many of your fans are at an age where women begin to develop these disorders. Please recognize the damage you could cause with these types of stunts.
The vomiting stunt was not even original. Punk acts have incorporated vomiting and other gross displays into their performances since the early 70s at least. But unlike those acts, you claim to be a role model, especially for young people. Glamorizing bulimia will only harm your fans, and considerably lowers your music and your message. We respectfully urge you not to work with Millie Brown in your performances again, and to avoid imagery that could be triggering to fans who struggle with an eating disorder. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
