R&B icon Stephanie Mills has revealed that she has an unresolved argument with “Mother Monster” Lady Gaga.
On Wednesday’s episode of “The Jason Lee Show,” the Grammy-winning “Wiz” star didn’t hold back when talking about what happened between him and Gaga and how the experience left a sour taste in his mouth.
“I think Lady Gaga is a culture vulture,” Mills said. “Can I tell you something… I don’t even know if I should tell you now.”
But Mills went ahead and said it anyway.
He said that a few years ago, his former manager approached him and wanted to fly to New York, where Lady Gaga was doing a fashion shoot. Mills’ mega-hit “Home” featured Mills asking, “Will you come surprise her and sing?” According to the manager, it was Gaga’s favorite song.
“At first I said no,” Mills continued. “Why would I do that? And I was talked into it. Never let anyone talk you into anything.
“I left,” Mills said. “He had a little black dog and other people there, and I sang for him. He didn’t smile. He didn’t do anything. He looked at me like I had two heads.”
Mills said she finished singing “Home” and the stars took photos, but before she left, Gaga’s team stopped her in the elevator and insisted she delete the photos. “And they didn’t let us leave until they saw that all the photos had been deleted,” he said. “So disrespectful.”
The Broadway star also revealed that she thinks Gaga is a culture vulture because Gaga is managed by Troy Carter, who is Black and has also worked with John Legend, Eve, Nelly, Meghan Trainor and Charlie Puth. Carter is widely credited with bringing the “Born This Way” singer to notoriety.
“I know who I am. I did it. I sang a song for him. I adored him. I’m not like that anymore,” Mills said.
“I show kindness to everyone, and over the years I’ve learned to lower my temperature and not react, but then show them who I am. … It’s like you don’t always have to react, but sooner or later, ‘Do you remember?’ You will have a chance to say ”
After the announcement, he looked directly into the camera and addressed Gaga: “I hope you watch and I hope you remember what you did. And I feel like you owe me an apology.”
Gaga’s representatives did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment, but the star — like many other musicians and actors — has a history of tampering with photos.