Mark Malkin, Senior Culture and Events Editor at Variety, and columnist and host of the "Just for Variety" podcast, recently posted footage on X of Lady Gaga casually revealing Thursday evening at a premiere for her new concert film that she performed five concerts in 2022 on her Chromatica Ball tour while testing positive for COVID. Entertainment Weekly provides more information:
"I did five shows with COVID," she told moderator Scott Evans of Access Hollywood
The confession garnered applause and cheers from the crowd. "I shared it with everyone on my team," Gaga said, referring to her decision to still perform. "And I said, 'I don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable at work, and you don't have to perform, and you don't have to work that day, but I'm gonna do the show' — 'cause I just didn't wanna let all the fans down… The way that I saw it also was that the fans were all putting themselves in harm's way every day coming to the shows. So, you know…
She added, "During all my quick changes, I kept going, 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry!'"
Her remarks prompted Evans to respond, "I love that! I love that!"
Reactions to the revelation in the comments of Malkin's tweet were mixed. Some praised the performer's stamina and marveled at her ability to perform while COVID-positive:
This is actually very impressive given how much of a toll that virus puts on your body, she's truly one of our greatest performers
Others called her out on the probability that she spread COVID to others on the tour, including her fellow performers and fans:
That is not a reason for her to be smiling. Honestly, it seems pretty selfish and inconsiderate to put others in danger willingly.
Personally, I think it's incredibly irresponsible for anyone to willingly be around others, unmasked, while they know they are COVID-positive. Additionally, many performers, athletes, and other performers who have pushed themselves because "the show must go on" have ended up with long COVID. But capitalism, am I right?
Seriously, though, folks, stay home or mask up if you're sick with a highly communicable disease that's killed millions worldwide and left millions more suffering from long COVID.
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