Lady Gaga to Kelly Osbourne: 'You have chosen a less compassionate path'
It's a new year, and Lady Gaga has resolved to carry on with one of her ways: The self-proclaimed mother monster continues to write open letters to her critics. Thursday's target was Kelly Osbourne, daughter of Ozzy and Sharon, also a fashion critic in her own right. And although Osbourne is no Cathy Horyn (whom Gaga has previously taken up issues with), she is, like Gaga, a celebrity who is also subject to widespread public criticism.
Lady Gaga to Kelly Osbourne: 'You have chosen a less compassionate path'
Esther Lee, Philly.com
It's a new year, and Lady Gaga has resolved to continue writing those controversial, very public open letters to her critics.
Thursday's target was Kelly Osbourne, daughter of Ozzy and Sharon, also a fashion critic in her own right. And although Osbourne is no Cathy Horyn (whom Gaga has previously taken up issues with), she is, like Gaga, a celebrity who is also subject to widespread public criticism.
Which is why the co-host of E!'s brutally honest, tongue-in-cheek humored show Fashion Police opened up to Fabulous Magazine about being bullied and targeted by Gaga's little monsters: "I'm the thinnest I've ever been and the healthiest I've ever been, said Osbourne in October, adding that Gaga's fans were, "the worst."
"They've said I should kill myself, that they hope I get raped. I mean it’s crazy but I’ve had this all my life and I just try and ignore it." The backlash Osbourne has received is not without reason. In 2009, she called Gaga a "butterface" noting that everything about the pop star "but her face" was fine. Osbourne added in her interview, "I actually think she’s a good singer but she has the worst fans in the world and you have a responsibility to stop that. I think you do anyway.”
In response, Gaga retorted with a very public letter stating that she wished Kelly had reached out to her personally. However, the pop star responded in a way that was far from personal by posting a public letter, "as the head of the Born This Way foundation."
She writes, "I have empathy for you Kelly, but I feel it culturally important to note that you have chosen a less compassionate path. Your work on E! with the Fashion Police is rooted in criticism, judgment, and rating people's beauty against one another. Your show breeds negativity, and over the years has even become comedic in nature. It glorifies you and Joan Rivers pointing in the camera, laughing, and making jokes about artists and celebrities as if we are zoo animals."
The pop star adds in a gentle-mannered way, "I am pointing this out not to take a crack at your character, as we’ve met before and you’re lovely. However, I urge you to take responsibility and accountability for the example that you are setting for young people. They look up to you because you are famous, and if you treat others that way on TV, many adolescents at home on twitter assume your actions are acceptable: well if she does it, why can’t I? I cannot control my fans, and I discourage them from any negativity and violence, because that is wrong and hurtful -- and I do feel baldy that your feelings were hurt."
Body image, a struggle for so many women, is more complex than most realize: The pressure to adhere to society's standards of attractiveness could, for so many young women, lead to psychologically and physically debilitating diseases like eating disorders. We hope these two stars can make amends in private, because both women are responsible for setting true examples for their legions of fans and followers. One thing's certain - we will be watching Kelly Osbourne on the red carpet this Sunday from the Golden Globes, including a recap with her fellow FP co-stars. Will Gaga's letter affect how Kelly critiques outfits from the awards ceremony?
Esther Lee is the style editor of Philly.com. Qualms, quips, questions? Email her, here.
Holy cow. I'm actually in agreement with Lady Gaga for the first time ever. Our society is all about criticism, speaking your opinion (and not caring about reaction), and snarkiness. No one listens to each other calmly and rationally anymore and its on both sides of every argument.— phillyjhawk- Amazing how people with virtually no talent or skills can rise to the top. Says so much about our society.— Bradley85
- That was an impressively intelligent response by Lady Gaga. She is completely right, she had said nothing about Osbourne and the butterface comment was completely unnecessary. When you say stuff like that you open yourself up to hatred from fans of that person, obviously I disagree with their language, but Lady Gaga does not have a duty to stop her fans when they are responding to something cruel you said, grow a pair Kelly if you're going to say those things.— ConverseB24
- can someone remind me why or how Kelly Osborne is a "famous celebrity" ?— ekw555
- i don't dig her music but that comment just made me a fan.— Shemp Howard
- I'm a 30 year old man and I have absolutely no problem saying that Lady GaGa is not only an amazing musician, but she's also intelligent, down to earth, and confident. She deserves a lot of credit and she deserves all of her fame and fortune. She stands for what is right and she has no problem speaking up for what she believes in.— Big_Ben45
- Big_Ben4 — "an amazing musician"....LOL.... You do realize that Lady Gaga does NOT write her own music? Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Shania Twain...they are nothing more than karaoke Barbies. Once they gain 20 pounds, their music career is over. — URANIUM235
- Uranium235. You my friend are world class dope. You may not like Lady Gaga's image but you simply cannot minimize her amazing musical talent. It is far from a schtick! I am in the music business and deal with your so-called "karaoke baries" and she is anuything but. — Nedt
- As the Nobel Laureate and death camp survivor Elie Wiesel has said time and again, one of the first steps to peace on earth is to end humiliation. And humiliation is what Ms. Osbourne bases her entire professional life on. I applaud Lady Gaga for coming out in a very intelligent and non-confrontational way in pointing this out - bravo.— CTL
- Lady nailed it. I'm not a fan of all her music although I do like some, but i've always admired this chicks intelligence. She's incredible.— slendergrl
- slendergrl — You do realize that Lady Gaga does not write her own music, right? And I seriously doubt she's intelligent. She might be intelligent for a high school graduate from Long Island, but she's not smart compared to woman at Penn or Princeton. — URANIUM235
- two talentless hags. is this seriously what passes for entertainment for most people these days? why is it that I feel like the American culture is a mental institution and everybody has been lobotomized. I feel like RP McMurphy in one flew over the cuckoos nest.— Ryan
- You know, I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight knowing these two girls are at odds with each other. "Can't we all just live together?" Hey Ozzy! Get on that Crazy Train again!— johnny rotten
- The nation's economy is going to hell, and this is news! Amazing.— dogman5
- I have to agree with Ryan.But Ryan not all of us have been lobotomized.Dodman5- we need a diversion that's why we have Hollywood,gossip mags,TMZ,MTV,E!VH1,and award shows— vrb1955
