Lady Gaga revealed during a Q&A screening of her HBO concert special, Gaga Chromatica Ball, that she performed five shows despite testing positive for COVID-19. The discussion took place when Gaga, 38, reflected on her experiences during the tail end of the pandemic.

Gaga shared that she informed her team about her condition and gave them the choice not to perform if they felt uncomfortable. She mentioned that her primary motivation was not wanting to disappoint her fans. Throughout the quick costume changes, she expressed apologies to her crew, conscious of the risk of spreading the virus.

The pop star’s admission has sparked significant backlash on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with users criticizing her decision as irresponsible and dangerous for both her team and attending fans.

In addition to discussing the shows, Gaga teased new music and expressed that her upcoming seventh studio album will be “really different” from her previous work. She emphasized her connection with fans, noting that despite the isolating nature of showbusiness, she never feels alone when with her supporters.

Gaga’s comments coincided with her recent red carpet appearance, where she wore an avant-garde outfit consisting of a sleek white Selva gown paired with a car part, delighting fans who celebrated her return to her “weird” fashion roots. The event also featured a pre-premiere Q&A, where she elaborated on the transformative journey represented by her Chromatica Ball tour.

The screening highlighted her 2022 tour stop at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, which had sold out with 52,000 attendees.