Lady Gaga’s alleged romance with co-star Bradley Cooper seemed to be the talking point of her role in the musical rom-com ‘A Star Is Born.’ However, the singer has set the record straight on exactly what their relationship entailed.

People have been asking questions about their relationship ever since they began working together. Although they’re definitely not together now, there was a time when rumors about them were everywhere. Were they a couple? Weren’t they? Was it all for show? It’s easy to get confused about their situation, but Gaga has since opened up about what really took place behind the scenes and away from the cameras.

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper only met a short time before casting for A Star is Born

Bradley Cooper was more than just one of the lead actors in ‘A Star Is Born;’ he was also a director. He had a potential say in who appeared in the film, and it was his input that bagged Lady Gaga the role. However, the actor wasn’t even that familiar with the singer before he put her forward for the part.

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The two of them only crossed paths for the first time in 2016 while attending a charity benefit. At the event, Gaga performed ‘La Vie En Rose’ – a song that featured in ‘A Star Is Born’ – and instantly, Cooper was hooked. The next day, he arranged to visit the singer, and before long, the two were having dinner together and discovering just how much they have in common.

The time they spent together on set strengthened their relationship

After convincing both Gaga and Warner Bros. that she was right for the film, the duo set to work creating movie magic. The filming process was intense, as it always is, but this didn’t get in the way of their relationship. In fact, the more they worked together, the more they seemed to bond. It helped that they were playing the two lead characters, so their roles were very intertwined.

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They shared a lot of powerful moments together in the film, and filming these scenes brought them closer. Of course, that closeness soon ignited rumors that love was blossoming between the pair, gossip that soon spread like wildfire. This was problematic, given they were both already in relationships with other people.

The way they talked about each other to the press hinted at a secret romance

Rumors about the two growing close while filming ‘A Star Is Born’ were everywhere. However, this was nothing more than idle gossip with no evidence to back the claims up. Without anything solid, the allegations would become old news quickly. Luckily for the tabloids, the pair soon gave them something to talk about.

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Although there weren’t any pictures of the duo cheating on their partners, Gaga and Cooper were incredibly vocal about their love for one another. The singer, in particular, attracted a lot of attention for the way she gushed about her co-star. Her fondness for Bradley was so over-the-top that it became a meme when Gaga made her famous remark about there being 100 people in a room.

Bradley Cooper made a surprise appearance at one of Lady Gaga’s shows in Las Vegas

2018 was a big year for Gaga. Not only was that when ‘A Star Is Born’ came out, but it was also when she began her Las Vegas residency. She performed shows in the famous city for more than a year, with each one as entertaining as the last. However, not all of the shows were identical.

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It seems there was one occasion when Gaga was joined onstage by a certain someone – her rumored boyfriend, Bradley Cooper. The actor showed up a few weeks into the residency, and the two of them performed ‘Shallow’ together to the adoring crowd. Some considered their behavior onstage to be a sign of romance, while others believed his presence there was proof enough they were together.

Their performance at the 2019 Academy Awards seemed like a declaration of love

Cooper’s surprise appearance in Vegas came early into awards season, a time that promised a lot of excitement for the pair. After all, they were nominated in multiple categories across various events, including the Academy Awards. Given that ‘Shallow’ was up for Best Original Song, Gaga and Cooper were asked to perform the track at the ceremony.

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Anyone who watched the show will know they did exactly that because their rendition was unforgettable. Sitting at a piano and singing together, the duo appeared more in love than ever before. Some reported feeling uncomfortable watching the two because of how close they seemed, despite not both being single. To many, this performance all but confirmed that Cooper and Gaga were an item, even if they wouldn’t admit it.

Lady Gaga claims that people were watching their characters perform, not the actors

After the ceremony, the duo’s performance proved to be one of the biggest talking points. Never mind the fact that Gaga won her first Oscar for Best Original Song; it was her passionate rendition of ‘Shallow’ that everyone wanted to discuss. The singer presumably expected this was going to happen, given her claims that they intended to look like they were in love.

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According to Gaga, it was supposed to feel like Ally and Jackson – their characters from ‘A Star Is Born’ – were performing the song. They were trying to bring those fictional people to life on the stage and showcase their love through a powerful song. If people believed the romance they were seeing, it meant the pair had done their jobs properly.

She was incredibly complimentary toward Bradley Cooper when giving her acceptance speech
For viewers at home, the performance of ‘Shallow’ was one of the biggest moments of the night. While that was undoubtedly a special time for Gaga, though, it was her win for Best Original Song that made the awards ceremony unforgettable. The singer is no stranger to winning, but to get an Oscar for making music – something she’s always been passionate about – was a dream come true.

Of course, Gaga probably wouldn’t have won the award if it weren’t for Cooper giving her a chance, and she didn’t forget to mention that. In fact, Gaga was incredibly complimentary towards her co-star during her acceptance speech, something that the rumor mill considered as further evidence of an ongoing romance. Was that really the case, though?

There was allegedly tension between Gaga and Irina Shayk at the Academy Awards

The reason some people felt awkward watching Gaga and Cooper perform ‘Shallow’ at the 2019 Oscars was because of Irina Shayk. Bradley Cooper’s girlfriend was actually at the awards ceremony with the pair, even sitting between the two of them when they weren’t on stage. Given what went on during the performance, you might think there was some tension between the trio.

According to a body language expert, you’d be right. While Gaga and Shayk appeared friendly and affectionate, their hugs were apparently the opposite. What’s more, the model had also apparently unfollowed the singer on social media just days before the ceremony. Supposedly, this was because Irina was fed up with all the talk about Cooper and Gaga being so close.

Cooper breaking up with Shayk prompted questions about him and Gaga going public

A few months after that famous performance, what many believed to be inevitable finally happened. Cooper and Shayk revealed that they were parting ways after four years together. The split sent an immediate shockwave through the media as people questioned why they’d ended things. After all, the pair had a daughter together and had underplayed breakup rumors for months.

Naturally, Gaga was dragged into the situation, with many quick to assume that Bradley had ended things to be with the singer. After all this build-up, it seemed impossible that the two wouldn’t go public with a romance now. The singer denied any intentional involvement in the couple’s split, though, with both Cooper and Shayk stating she had nothing to do with them ending things.

Gaga had broken up with her own partner several months earlier

Cooper’s breakup came several months after Gaga had a devastating split of her own. Around the same time the singer was winning awards for her role in ‘A Star Is Born,’ she was sparking rumors by going out without her engagement ring. She’d been all set to marry Christian Carino, who she’d been with for a few years.

However, after only being engaged for a couple of months, the duo parted ways. Gaga didn’t confirm the split at first, but that didn’t stop the rumor mill from going into overdrive. By the time their breakup was official, people were already adamant that Gaga’s close relationship with Cooper was responsible. Neither party ever confirmed that, though, making the matter nothing but speculation.

Rumors claim various different things about Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s breakups

According to some rumors, breaking up with their partners was a necessary step in Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper becoming an official item. They couldn’t be in a relationship while they were still committed to others, nor could they end things at the same time. Supposedly, the reason Gaga’s breakup came several months before Cooper’s was to avoid suspicion.

However, if that was the case, then they failed because the singer was the first thing people brought up when Bradley and Irina separated. Other rumors claim that they were supposed to leave their partners together, and when Cooper didn’t, he broke Gaga’s heart. That’s when the two supposedly began drifting apart, bringing an end to the romance before it had even become official.

Gaga made it a point to emphasize how much she saw Cooper as a friend

When you’re a celebrity, there’s not much you can do when people start spreading rumors about you. Obviously, you can come out and say that the claims aren’t true, but it’s hard to prove you’re not just spreading lies. That’s especially the case with secret relationships, and it’s not helped by the fact that plenty of romance rumors have turned out true.

So, when it came to all the gossip about her and Cooper, Gaga was fairly limited in how she could respond. That didn’t mean she was going to stay quiet when people were talking about her, though. She dispelled the rumors numerous times, emphasizing how much she valued the actor as a friend. She couldn’t have friend-zoned him harder if she tried.

Both Gaga and Cooper dispelled rumors of a romance during talks with Oprah Winfrey

If you need someone to get to the bottom of a rumor, turn to Oprah Winfrey. The talk show host is one of the best in her field, with her compassion and no-nonsense attitude helping her run some of the greatest interviews the world has ever seen. After all the rumors about Cooper and Gaga went into overdrive, Winfrey naturally stepped in to try and discover the truth of the situation.

She spoke to the actor and the singer individually, but they both had the same story to tell. In particular, Bradley said that if he and Gaga were in love, he wouldn’t have been able to look her in the eye during their Academy Award performance. Gaga agreed with that wholeheartedly.

Some claim that the rumors were nothing more than a publicity stunt

It’s been a few years now since Gaga and Cooper’s supposed relationship was the talk of the town. Gaga’s chat with Oprah seemed to be the final nail in the coffin that ended speculation about her and Bradley for good. Even if something had been between them at the time, it’s obviously not still there now.

Some people believe it was never there to begin with but that the pair played it up for publicity’s sake. After all, it made them a huge talking point for months after ‘A Star Is Born’ hit our screens. Is it possible they jumped on the bandwagon and intentionally fueled romance rumors, despite nothing going on between them? It’s possible, but we’ll never really know for sure.

Gaga has been dating Michael Polansky for over a year now

It would be a little concerning if there was still a romance brewing between Gaga and Cooper, given she’s been in a relationship with someone else for a while now. The singer went public with a new romance back in February 2020 when she uploaded a photo of her with her new beau to social media. After a bit of diving, media sources discovered the identity of her boyfriend as one Michael Polansky.

The man is a Harvard graduate who’s an executive director at the Parker Foundation. Although his life – including his relationship with Gaga – is relatively private, the two have seemingly maintained a strong relationship over the last year and a bit. There certainly doesn’t seem to be anyone trying to steal Gaga from Polansky’s arms.

Polansky’s ex gave her support to his relationship with Lady Gaga

It can be weird finding out that your ex is dating one of the most famous women in the world. It certainly was for Lindsay Crouse when she heard about Polansky and Gaga being an item. She’d been with the Harvard graduate for seven years, but their relationship ended before the singer came along.

Given all the supposed drama with Gaga, Cooper, and Shayk, a scorned ex is the last thing the actress probably wanted. Thankfully, Crouse wasn’t upset about the situation. In fact, she was happy for the pair and said that their being in a relationship made the singer seem like more of a normal person. After all, Gaga can’t be that different if she’s dating the man Lindsay used to call her boyfriend.

It’s currently unclear if marriage is on the cards for Gaga and Polansky

Given how close Lady Gaga and Polansky seem to be, some people are wondering whether marriage might be on the cards for the two of them. Some sources suggest yes, with the couple so in love that they don’t need to wait years to tie the knot. Others, though, claim that it’s far too soon for them to rush into anything.

Being engaged is nothing new to Gaga, but she’s never actually made it down the aisle. Her relationships have always ended before then, leaving fans wondering if she’ll ever become a bride. There’s a chance that Michael could be the man lucky enough to call the singer his wife. However, if that’s going to happen, it’ll be when the two of them are ready for it.

Gaga got engaged to Taylor Kinney in 2015, but that ended in disaster the following year

It was only two years ago that Gaga ended her engagement with Christian Carino. However, Carino wasn’t the first man to pop the question to the actress. Before him, there was Taylor Kinney. He and Gaga grew close after filming the music video for ‘Yoü & I’ in 2011, with their relationship becoming official soon after.

They dated for a few years before Kinney got down on one knee in 2015. However, their love didn’t last, and they called off the wedding the following year. Since then, there hasn’t been much said between these two, although Taylor didn’t come under fire for liking a shady comment about Gaga on social media. He later apologized for this, claiming that it had been an “accidental” like.

Cooper is currently single, although there are rumors about him and Jennifer Garner

With Gaga busy being loved up with Polansky, people have wondered what Bradley Cooper’s got going on right now. As it turns out, not much. Unless the actor is harboring a secret romance, it seems he’s focused on enjoying the single life at the moment. There were suspicions about him and Jennifer Garner, who split from Ben Affleck several years ago.

The duo was even pictured at the beach together with Garner’s daughter. However, there was supposedly nothing romantic about the meetup. They were apparently there as friends, not that everyone believes them. Friends were what Cooper and Gaga claimed to be, and we saw how long gossip about them lasted. Still, if these two say they’re not an item, why shouldn’t we believe them?

Gaga’s positive experience with Cooper is a contrast to some previous working relationships

Now that several years have passed since ‘A Star Is Born’ came out, Gaga and Cooper seemed to have moved on from the movie. The pair haven’t been seen together for a while, and they haven’t talked about one another on social media or in interviews either.

Regardless of what state their relationship is in now, though, it’s safe to say that Lady Gaga’s experience filming that movie is one she’ll always treasure. After all, the singer hasn’t always had the best working relationships. In fact, one in particular still scars her to this day because of what they did. It was a producer who took advantage of the singer, including being intimate with her without consent. Gaga was 19 at the time.

She revealed what the producer put her through on Oprah Winfrey’s docuseries

Lady Gaga delved into the traumatic experience on the docuseries ‘The Me You Can’t See,’ a show designed to remove some of the stigmas around mental health. It wasn’t easy for the singer to talk about, but discussing the incident was something of a weight off her shoulders after all this time.

On the program, Gaga revealed that the producer told her to remove her clothes, and when she refused, they threatened to destroy her music. The person was persistent and eventually got what they wanted, leaving the singer with scars that will never go away. Although given the opportunity, Gaga didn’t name the person responsible, saying she didn’t ever want to face them again. That’s understandable, given what they allegedly put her through.

Her traumatic experience back then left the singer with PTSD

That experience with the producer was so damaging that it left the singer with post-traumatic stress disorder. People tend to only associate PTSD with those who have been to war, but anyone can have it if they experience something traumatic. Her diagnosis wasn’t immediate, with the singer only discovering she had the disorder after going to the hospital for something else.

In the docuseries, Gaga revealed that she switched between experiencing intense pain and being completely numb, to the point that she had a psychotic break. Eventually, she was able to find the strength to at least put on a brave face and keep pushing her career forward. However, proper healing was still a long way off for Lady Gaga at the time.

Lady Gaga’s ended up harming herself because of what she went through

In the aftermath of her trauma, Lady Gaga picked up several destructive habits, including harming herself. She told Oprah that it’s like having “a black cloud following you” that’s constantly telling you you’re not good enough or that you should end it all. When you have a voice like that in your head, it’s hard to shut them up, which is why the singer would “scream and throw [herself] against the wall.”

Gaga copes better now, but, at the same time, she’s just as susceptible to those dark moments as she was before. Even if Gaga has a few good months, there’s every chance the painful cycle can be triggered again. Thankfully, she has a stronger support network around her today to help with that.

The singer frequently suffers intense pain because of her fibromyalgia

As if all this wasn’t bad enough, the singer also lives with fibromyalgia. It’s a chronic illness that causes great pain, along with other symptoms like fatigue and memory issues. Millions of people live with the problem, but most of them don’t have the physically demanding job that Gaga does. The singer lives to perform, and she doesn’t like to hold back when putting on a show.

Can you imagine how difficult it must be to do that as often as she does when your body just wants to cause you pain? Obviously, the illness doesn’t always affect Gaga at the same intensity, with the singer only having to cancel gigs when she has a significant flare up. However, this disorder isn’t something Gaga can ever cure.

Gaga developed eating disorders after being mocked about her eccentricity

Lady Gaga is an eccentric entertainer. It’s why her fans love her and why she’s been so newsworthy ever since she burst onto the scene. However, when you have a personality like that, you can attract as much hate as you do love. People who don’t understand the singer and think she’s “too much” turn against her, just as they did in school.

When Gaga was a student at Convent of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic institute, she was apparently mocked for how she stood out. This affected her so much that she began struggling with anorexia and bulimia, eating disorders that stayed with her long after graduation. Again, they’re something that remain with the star to this day, even if she seems fine.

In college, people made a page on social media telling Gaga that she’d never be famous

Lady Gaga’s haters weren’t shy in numbers when she found mainstream success. People spread vicious rumors about the singer and criticized her looks, all because she was different. This kind of thing would probably affect any rising star pretty severely, but Gaga was already accustomed to such behavior. After all, someone once made a page on social media called, ‘Stefani Germanotta, you will never be famous.’

Stefani Germanotta being the singer’s real name, the page was made by other people in her college who wanted to beat her down. Thankfully, she’s had the last laugh, given her many successes over the last decade and more. Those haters told her she’d never be famous, so Gaga went and became as famous as she possibly could.

Lady Gaga has been passionate about performing since she started playing the piano at four

It’s been a tough road for Lady Gaga over the years. From the bullying in school to the incident with that producer and all the mental health problems that stemmed from them, she’s had it rough. If she could go back and stop herself from ever going down this path, though, would she? We can’t say for sure, but the chances are that she probably wouldn’t.

After all, performing is Gaga’s passion and has been since she was young. Gaga started playing the piano at four years old, and she worked so hard at it that she managed to learn 15 page-long pieces. Evidently, she’s been musically inclined all her life, and although that has brought hardship her way, it’s also filled Gaga with immense joy.

She’s written a bunch of songs for other well-known artists

After honing her piano skills throughout childhood, Gaga wrote her first ballad at 13. From there, she really began flexing her writing skills, crafting one tune after another in the hopes of gaining recognition. Obviously, the singer writes all the songs that she releases herself, but she’s penned far more than just those iconic tracks.

In fact, she’s helped create songs for a variety of famous artists, from Britney Spears to Jennifer Lopez. She wrote the bonus track ‘Quicksand’ for the former’s ‘Circus’ album, and ‘Hypnotico’ for the latter’s ‘Love?’ album. Adam Lambert, Michael Bolton, Trina, and New Kids on the Block are just a few other artists that Gaga has penned tracks for because her writing prowess knows no bounds.

Madonna hasn’t always been a fan of the similarities between her and Gaga

Not everyone who’s had a problem with Gaga over the years has done so simply because they don’t like her eccentricity. Some people who haven’t taken a shine to the singer have been incredibly eccentric themselves, most notably Madonna. The relationship between these two has been up and down over the years, with the media frequently pitting them against one another.

They made the comparisons to Madonna as soon as ‘Just Dance’ came out, but it wasn’t until ‘Born This Way’ that things really heated up. Some people couldn’t help but notice similarities between the song and Madonna’s ‘Express Yourself,’ with the woman referring to Gaga’s song as “reductive.” Gaga herself couldn’t see the similarities apparently, stating that it was “moronic” to think the tracks were the same.

Despite references to Madonna, Gaga has forged a successful career on her own merit

As someone who has looked up to Madonna for years, it might be no surprise that Lady Gaga has made plenty of references to the singer throughout her career. It’s also not that shocking that these two have faced frequent comparison ever since the latter burst onto the scene. However, that doesn’t mean they’re the same or that Gaga is copying Madonna.

The industry rarely sees such eccentric figures like these two, who break boundaries and dare to do things others would be too scared of. Given that they’re both trailblazers in this regard, it’s understandable why it may sometimes seem like they’re stealing from one another. However, after so many years, it’s hard for any artist to do something entirely unique nowadays.

Gaga isn’t here for the Madonna comparisons because she believes they’re very different

One person who isn’t a particular fan of the comparisons between her and Madonna is Lady Gaga. Although she respects the singer and is grateful that she paved the way for artists like her to be successful, she doesn’t think they’re the same. During an interview with Beats 1 radio in 2016, Gaga distanced herself from Madonna by saying she plays instruments and writes all her own music.

She also stated that she’s a producer and spends hours at a time in the studio, exclaiming that “what I do is different.” That same year, she also remarked that it had always been her dream to become so good that she riled up a legend like Madonna. Madonna’s fans weren’t too thrilled about that.

The pair have reignited the drama numerous times, but all seems to be forgiven now

Just when you think the supposed feud is over, either Gaga or Madonna seems to rake it up. From Madonna performing mashups of ‘Express Yourself’ and ‘Born This Way’ to Gaga making multiple references to the singer in her documentary ‘Gaga: Five Foot Two,’ the pair are persistent.

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At one point, Elton John got involved in the drama after he took offense to ‘Born This Way’ being called “reductive.” He referred to Madonna as “ungracious and nasty,” with their relationship taking a while to recover. Thankfully, there’s been no sign of a feud between the two women for several years now, with the duo even cozying up after Gaga’s Academy Award victory. Whatever drama there was there is seemingly now behind them both.

Patrizia Reggiani isn’t happy with Gaga’s portrayal of her in an upcoming movie

Madonna isn’t the only person that Gaga has apparently upset during her career. Someone she’s gotten on the wrong side of more recently is Patrizia Reggiani. If the name isn’t familiar, Patrizia is the ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci, who lost his life to someone his spouse hired in 1995. Gucci’s passing will be explored in the upcoming biographical crime film’ House of Gucci,’ with Gaga playing the role of Reggiani.

Unfortunately, she won’t have a supporter in her real-life counterpart, as Patrizia believes it’s not an accurate portrayal. She’s offended that Gaga didn’t consult her before filming the movie, believing the move lacked “common sense and respect.” Although she has “appreciation” for the singer, Patrizia’s not eagerly anticipating the film’s release.

Gaga’s co-star Salma Hayek believes the singer’s commitment to the role was exceptional

While Gaga might not have a fan in Reggiani for her role in ‘House of Gucci,’ the same can’t be said for one of her co-stars. Salma Hayek also stars in the movie, and she’s had nothing but kind words to say about the singer. Not only does she think that Gaga is “incredibly talented [and] smart,” but she also believes that her level of commitment is something she’s only ever seen once or twice before.

Despite Patrizia’s claims that Gaga’s performance won’t be accurate, Hayek is insistent that she’s given absolutely everything to this character. She even has the accent down perfectly, apparently, which is something that a lot of actors sometimes struggle with. Only time will tell which of these women is right about Gaga’s performance.

Hayek’s kind words prove two co-stars can complement one another without being in love

The kind words that Salma had to say about Lady Gaga are really no different from what Cooper said about her while making ‘A Star Is Born,’ and vice versa. However, no one is claiming that Hayek and Gaga are enjoying a secret romance behind the scenes. This just shows that you can be incredibly complimentary about someone you work with without there being anything more to it.

Maybe there was a hidden relationship there for a while, or maybe the pair were just very good friends? Whatever the truth, it’s safe to say that it’s all behind them now. Gaga is happily dating Polansky and is far too busy with her many work commitments to even think about betraying him, let alone wanting to.