AP ImagesUpdate: In response to Bette Midler's Twitter claims against her, Lady Gaga today told The Billy Bush Show, "I had no idea that she did that, and I'm a huge Bette Midler fan."
The pop star continued, "Maybe we're just cut from the same cloth...I couldn't hop around in that tail, so I just stuck myself in a wheelchair."
Come on, Gaga, you're fairly creative, couldn't you have come up with something a little more clever?
Instead of saying, I didn't know that she'd done it, but I do now and I think it's great, at least say it was a tribute to M!
Team Bette.
________
Really, Lady Gaga?
When copying someone's act that they originated in the '80s and continue to do onstage today, how do you expect not to be caught red-handed?
Or red-finned, in this case.
Last week, Lady Gaga took the stage in Sydney where she was egged after performing dressed as a mermaid in a wheelchair.
And while advocacy groups were outraged at Gaga's performance, it was another diva, Bette Midler, who originated the wheelchair-bound mermaid act, who was actually most peeved of all. It's a case of Yuyi the Mermaid vs. Delores De Lago!
So what does the divine Miss M have to say about Gaga stealing her act?
"Dear @ladygaga Ive been doing singing mermaid in a wheelchair since 1980-You can keep the meat dress and the firecracker tits-mermaid's mine" Midler tweeted over the weekend. She also added, "Dear @ladygaga if you think a mermaid in a wheelchair seems familiar-it's because it is! You can see it on youtube 24/7-with ME performing it."
Come on, Gaga, pick something less random than a mermaid in a wheelchair to copy and then maybe not so many people will notice. And, Bette, don't forget that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, doll. Try not to be too bitter in this battle.
"I'm not sure @ladygaga knows that I've performed my mermaid in a wheelchair for millions of people -- and many of them are still alive..." Midler quasi-joked on her Twitter over the weekend.
Ironically, last week, both divas were nominated in the same Emmy category: Outstanding Performance in a Variety, Music or Comedy Special.
May the best mermaid win.
And ever the lady, Bette's latest tweet calls a truce of sorts: "@ladygaga, let's drink this over at the Emmys in September. Fabulous mermaids can coexist!"
We love us some Gaga, but at least give credit where credit is due. Tell your audience it's an homage to Miss Midler! Or bring Bette on stage and sing a duet as dueling mermaids!
Or better yet, call Katy Perry and see if we can make this a three-mermaid traveling act.