“The Gaga shade” — Fans troll as Madonna responds to claims of women ‘copying’ her: “God forbid a woman takes inspiration”

Madonna’s latest quote about women “taking inspiration” has reignited the pop culture time machine, featuring one Lady Gaga—and Gen Z wasn’t about to let it slide. In response to the long-running narrative that female artists have copied her, Madonna recently clapped back with,

“God forbid a woman takes inspiration.”

A noble sentiment... except the internet can’t help but remember that time she called Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” “reductive.” Cue the sound of thousands of pop fans side-eyeing their screens. Under a viral tweet from PopBase sharing Madonna’s quote, a comment from @22wildflower11 summed it all up perfectly:

“The gaga shade....”

And honestly? Yeah. We clocked it. Now let’s talk fan reactions, historic tea, and why this pop icon may be backpedaling in rhinestone heels.

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The messy backstory: From ‘reductive’ to reflective?

For anyone new to this pop drama (welcome, we have receipts), the Madonna vs. Gaga saga dates back to 2011 when Born This Way was constantly compared to Express Yourself. Instead of brushing it off or taking the high road, Madonna leaned straight into the drama—calling Gaga’s work “reductive” in a now-infamous ABC interview.

Even after she publicly credited Madonna as an influence multiple times, the shade kept coming. From subtle digs on tour to on-stage mashups designed to “expose” similarities, Madonna seemed committed to the rivalry like it was a second job.

So what’s with the sudden pivot? Based on fan speculation across Reddit and fan forums, Madonna’s recent shift may be tied to the wave of younger artists citing her influence—Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, and yes, even Gaga again. Maybe she’s realizing that being seen as a bitter gatekeeper isn’t the legacy she wants. Or maybe she just finally opened Instagram and saw the memes.

Some fans believe Madonna’s comment wasn’t aimed at her at all, but rather at critics who accuse today’s pop girls of recycling the past. Still, the timing, tone, and history make it hard not to read between the glittery lines.

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Madonna says it’s okay to be inspired—but Gaga stans are still quoting “reductive.”

The moment Madonna dropped her “God forbid a woman takes inspiration” line, the internet collectively raised an eyebrow, took a long sip of iced matcha, and opened the group chat. Because nothing screams main character syndrome like rewriting pop history while Twitter is watching.

First came the pop culture historians and the Little Monsters with long memories and even longer receipts:

“Where was this energy during the Born This Way era?” -@scheisebaby

“And when they do, she calls it ‘reductive’🙄” -@MARY_KATEguest

“Where was this in 2011 lmao” -@cdamnburst47

Then entered the snarky commentators, equal parts confused and unamused:

“Why she shading Gaga 😭"-@realonx1

“Madonna is not inspiring tho.” -@cruelcvnt

“I know, there is no end to the suffering of insufferable women.” -@JoeymacJoey

Of course, the camp-loving chaos agents had to drop their one-liners and delusions with unmatched flair:

“She is Mother.” -@Tmac_SOL

“The girls aren’t copying… they’re studying. #Madonna #QueenOfPop” -@AIMedia_

“She is looking like Lady Gaga.” -@Hira_Rajput786

And finally, the rare optimists who pretended growth was happening (or at least that the beef is medium rare now):

“I’m so glad she grew as a person.” -@CouldIL0veHim

The overall vibe? Sparkly shade, cosmic karma, and meme-fueled flashbacks to 2011. Whether people were rolling their eyes or rolling out their old “Born This Way” vinyl, the response was unanimous: Madonna might be trying to rewrite the script, but the audience remembers every act.

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While Madonna’s quote was likely meant as a feminist mic drop, the internet reminded her it’s hard to rewrite history when the receipts are still online. Whether this is a genuine shift in attitude or just savvy PR, one thing’s for sure: the girls are studying—and they’ve taken notes. With Gaga continuing to praise her, and fans holding both accountable, perhaps the real pop power move would be a collab. Until then, we’ll be watching—preferably through vintage rose-tinted shades.