'[Lady Gaga's] journey isn't that difficult: to go from the f---ing Upper East Side to a f---ing performing arts school ...,' M.I.A. rants to
Time Out.
By James Montgomery
M.I.A.
Photo: Roger Kisby/ Getty Images
Things haven't exactly been going
great for
M.I.A. as of late — her performance at last weekend's
Hard NYC festival was marred by sound issues, disastrous downpours and, according to some, M.I.A.'s less-than-gracious behavior (she reportedly
threw a microphone into the audience and
spit on photographers) — and now, well, there's even more bad press to throw on the pile.
In a new interview with
Time Out London, M.I.A. goes
off on targets both new and old, taking
potshots at Lady Gaga (whom she's dissed in the past), and, somewhat inexplicably, Oprah Winfrey.
At issue is an apparent slight by Winfrey that occurred at this year's Metropolitan Ball in New York, which had M.I.A. in attack mode.
"Oprah seemed like she was giving me the cold shoulder," she says. "She was with [David Bowie's wife] Iman. Iman was always dancing with me, hugging and kissing me, but Oprah seemed really pissed off with me."
That tirade then quickly segued into her latest dis on Gaga, which called into question her upbringing and just how hard she really had to work to get to where she is today.
"Also, [Winfrey] made this huge speech at the ball praising Lady Gaga about how she is helping Americans to be the best of themselves," M.I.A. said. "There's millions of other Americans who represent that for me. Is [it] about numbers? About how much you're selling? Is it truly about the journey? Because [Lady Gaga's] journey isn't that difficult: to go from the f---ing Upper East Side to a f---ing performing arts school and onto a stage at the museum of f---ing wherever. That journey's about four miles."
The rant — at least what's printed of it — ends there. In an interview with British mag
NME earlier this year, M.I.A. accused Gaga of ripping off the work of artists like Madonna and Grace Jones, calling her "a good mimic." As far as we can tell, this is the first time she's sounded off against Winfrey.
Emails to reps for Winfrey and Gaga seeking comment on the story were not responded to by press time.
What do you think of M.I.A.'s accusations against Oprah and Lady Gaga? Tell us in the comments.
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M.I.A. Blasts Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey
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