Lady Gaga faces backlash from fans over 'shocking and tasteless' Instagram post

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By Kim Novak

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Lady Gaga's fans have voiced their displeasure after the singer shared a post on Instagram which they deemed to be "shocking and tasteless".

The singer, 37, took to Instagram to tell her followers about the migraines she had suffered from throughout her life as part of an advert for a drug designed to help.

She shared a snap of herself performing on stage, with one hand held up to her forehead as she opened up about the migraines she often experiences.

Gaga - whose real name is Stefani Germanotta - told her followers: "Ever since childhood, I’ve dealt with migraine pain. When I tried Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) 75 mg for the first time, I’ll never forget wishing I had found it sooner."

She added: "That’s why I’m proud to partner with Nurtec ODT. We’re in this together. If you’re ready to speak to a doctor, ask about Nurtec ODT today. #MHAM."

Alongside her post, she also shared slides detailing the product information as well as potential side-effects within her caption.

While celebrities being paid to share promotional posts is nothing new, fans were less than impressed that Gaga had chosen to promote medication to her followers - or that she needed to do advertising posts on social media at all.

One commented: "Is she poor?," while another added: "Why is she posting ads for medicine".

Others wrote: "ma'am??? since when are you doing sponsored posts??? this is wild", "Baby you don’t need money this badly…", and "oh rent is DUE."

Some claimed that the post went against Gaga's previous philosophy that money wasn't everything, writing: "Lady Gaga Monster Ball DVD 2011: 'I hate money' Lady Gaga 2023: 'buy medicine'".

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Credit: Instagram
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Credit: Instagram
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Credit: Instagram

One also pointed out that celebrities being paid to promote medication was something not seen in many countries bar the US, writing: "Wow. I'll never normalize celebrities being paid to endorse big pharma."

Another added: "This ad is shocking and tasteless. Health is not a consumer good. We don't sell medicines as if they were iPhones or Oreos. Health should be accessible to all and be prescribed by Doctors, not pop stars. Wtf."

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Credit: Instagram

Nurtec can cost around $1,000 for a month's supply, meaning that the high costs would not make it accessible for all that need it.

Gaga had also opened up about her "debilitating" migraines in an interview published on Pfizer's website, saying: "I would be in bed for days with tremendous pain in my head, behind my eyes, and all throughout my face.

"I couldn’t read or have any lights on, and I needed to be alone in a quiet room for hours that could lead to days until the pain subsided."

Gaga is not the only person to have shared sponsored posts for Nurtec, as Khloe Kardashian and Whoopi Goldberg have also previously endorsed the product.

Featured image credit: Nancy Rivera/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images