Lady Gaga denounces white supremacy in award speech

Lady Gaga raised her voice against racism and white supremacy spiking in the United States, during her acceptance speech at the King Center’s Beloved Community Awards.

A vocal celebrity activist, Lady Gaga addressed her privileges as a white woman in America and her responsibility as an artist who millions look up to.

The singer was honoured with the Yolanda Denise King “High Ground” award. In her speech, she asked her white friends to seek to “right our wrongs without shame”.

 "I am aware I am before you as Stefani Germanotta, my given name; as Lady Gaga, a famous white woman with the power of a large platform. My racial identity alone centres my whiteness while I’m still very much finding my place in creating Dr King Jr’s beloved community."

She continued, "White people, I believe that Black life represents the best of our nation and as white people, I believe we have a responsibility to unlearn, to accept the honest truth about the history of our country, admit that white supremacy makes us unhealthy and change our own behaviours to contribute to a world where freedom is real for everyone."

Lady Gaga, who will sing the US national anthem at President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, dedicated her award to the Black community and reiterated her support for the 'Black Lives Matter' movement.