CULTURE

Dolce & Gabbana’s Stefano Gabbana Apologizes for Body-Shaming Lady Gaga

“I thought about it, and I was wrong.”


gaga
Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

Lady Gaga’s epic Super Bowl LI halftime show was mostly met with praise for her power vocals and death-defying aerial stunts. But some viewers felt the need to criticize Gaga post-performance for her stomach-baring Atelier Versace ensemble. And now, one designer is speaking out—and apologizing—for his role in the body shaming.

Lady Gaga took to the Super Bowl stage in three custom looks created by fellow Italian house Versace: The first was a sparkling Atelier Versace bodysuit with shoulder pads that channeled David Bowie. The second added a spiked golden jacket atop her initial ensemble. And the third and final look—a structured crop top, modeled to look like football pads, and Swarovski-crystal encrusted boy shorts—was met with the most controversial reactions, including from Stefano Gabbana, co-founder of Dolce & Gabbana. After initially criticizing her exposed stomach, Gabbana took to Instagram to apologize to Lady Gaga. Posting a photo of Gaga’s midsection, Gabbana wrote (in both Italian and English): “I know it’s strange, but finally something real not retouched! The truth, reality. Yesterday I criticized it too, but I though [sic] about it and I was wrong!!!” Gabbana’s apology was met with mixed reactions, with some applauding his apology and others condemning him for shaming Gaga in the first place.

While Lady Gaga has not responded specifically to Gabbana’s apology, she did make a statement on her Instagram account regarding the Internet body-shaming. “I heard my body is a topic of conversation so I wanted to say, I’m proud of my body and you should be proud of yours too. No matter who you are or what you do,” Gaga wrote in her caption. “I could give you a million reasons why you don’t need to cater to anyone or anything to succeed. Be you, and be relentlessly you. That’s the stuff of champions. Thank you so much everyone for supporting me. I love you guys. Xoxo, gaga.”

Lady Gaga’s Most Naked, Bloody, and Gaga-esque Performances

Lady Gaga performs at Lollapalooza 2007

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Lady Gaga performs during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards

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Elton John and Lada Gaga perform onstage at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards

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Lady Gaga performs on ABC’s “Good Morning America”

Andrew H. Walker

Lady Gaga and Brian May perform on stage at the The 28th Annual MTV Video Music Awards

Kevin Mazur

Lady Gaga performs onstage during The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards

Jeff Kravitz

Lady Gaga performs during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards

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R. Kelly and Lady Gaga perform onstage during the 2013 American Music Awards

Lester Cohen

Lady Gaga performs on stage at the 87th Oscars

Robyn Beck

Lady Gaga performs onstage during “The ARTPOP Ball” tour

Kevin Mazur

Lady Gaga performs during Super Bowl 50

Ezra Shaw

Lady Gaga performs onstage during The 58th GRAMMY Awards

Kevin Winter

Lady Gaga performs on stage at the 88th Oscars

MARK RALSTON

Lady Gaga on the Bud Light x Lady Gaga Dive Bar Tour

Dimitrios Kambouris

Musical guest Lady Gaga performs on Saturday Night Live

NBC

Lady Gaga performs onstage during the 2016 American Music Awards

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Lady Gaga performs and Kendall Jenner walks the runway during the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

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