Lady Gaga's latest comeback has been a source of contention among fans and critics, and now the singer is speaking out against her detractors.


Saying she feels persecuted in the media, Gaga told The Guardian, "I certainly feel that at this time it's almost as if people are surprised they haven't already destroyed me. It gives them a sense of pleasure when they believe that they've destroyed me or taken me down. It's almost entertainment for people to poke fun at Lady Gaga, but at the very same time they have no idea the album I've made. They have no idea what I put into this, they have no idea the work that I've put behind my performances and what I do. In fact, people have no idea what it really took for me to get here. So it doesn't bother me, it's just an interesting observation of where we are as a society."


Considering the reign she held over the pop world just a few years ago, Gaga's return has been met with significant vilification. Critics have compared her single to Katy Perry's "Roar", and Perry's extremely successful track vastly outsold Gaga's "Applause." Gaga's recent performance at the MTV Video Music Awards saw mixed reactions, and even she deemed herself "over" in a tongue-in-cheek new ad.


"It's literally not even been two weeks since my first single came out and it's all, 'She's over,' or because I'm not No. 1 yet, 'She's finished,'" Gaga told The Guardian. "People focus less on the music and focus more on how the music's doing; how it's faring from a numbers perspective, from a financial perspective. If you think I give a damn about money, then you don't know me as an artist at all. I think that once you've had a few No. 1's in your career that you've kind of proven yourself, and I don't feel the need to prove anything anymore."


Read more about Gaga's response to her critics on The Guardian.





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  • MTV Europe Music Awards 2011 - Show


    BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - NOVEMBER 06: Singer Lady Gaga performs onstage during the MTV Europe Music Awards 2011 live show at the Odyssey Arena on November 6, 2011 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)




  • New Year's Eve 2012 In Times Square


    NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 31: Singer Lady Gaga and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg share a dance as they celebrate the beginning of the new year at New Year's Eve 2012 in Times Square on January 1, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)




  • New Year's Eve 2012 In Times Square


    NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 31: Singer Lady Gaga performs at New Year's Eve 2012 in Times Square on December 31, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)




  • New Year's Eve 2012 In Times Square


    NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 31: Singer Lady Gaga performs at New Year's Eve 2012 in Times Square on December 31, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)




  • New Year's Eve 2012 In Times Square


    NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 31: Singer Lady Gaga performs at New Year's Eve 2012 in Times Square on December 31, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)




  • US pop singer Lady Gaga reacts to Japane


    US pop singer Lady Gaga reacts to Japanese fans upon her arrival at the Narita International Airport, suburdan Tokyo on December 20, 2011. Gaga is now here to perform at a Japanese television's music program. AFP PHOTO / JIJI PRESS (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)




  • KIIS FM's Jingle Ball 2011 - Show


    LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 03: Singer Lady Gaga performs at KIIS FM's Jingle Ball at L.A. Live's Nokia Theatre on December 3, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for U Music)




  • KIIS FM's Jingle Ball 2011 - Show


    LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 03: Singer Lady Gaga performs at KIIS FM's Jingle Ball at L.A. Live's Nokia Theatre on December 3, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for U Music)




  • 39th International Emmy Awards - Press Room


    NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Lady Gaga attends the 39th International Emmy Awards at the Mercury Ballroom at the New York Hilton on November 21, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)




  • Gaga's Workshop Ribbon Cutting At Barneys New York With Lady Gaga


    NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Lady Gaga attends Gaga's Workshop Ribbon Cutting at Barneys New York on November 21, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Barneys New York)




  • Gaga's Workshop Ribbon Cutting At Barneys New York With Lady Gaga


    NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Lady Gaga attends Gaga's Workshop Ribbon Cutting at Barneys New York on November 21, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Barneys New York)




  • Children In Need Rocks Manchester - Backstage Portraits


    MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 17: Lady Gaga poses backstage at Children In Need Rocks Manchester 2011 at The Manchester Evening News Arena on November 17, 2011 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)




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  • Bambi Award 2011


    WIESBADEN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 10: Lady Gaga performs during the Bambi Award 2011 show at the Rhein-Main-Hallen on November 10, 2011 in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Photo by Christian Augustin/Getty Images)




  • US pop star Lady Gaga poses with her fou


    US pop star Lady Gaga poses with her four awards for Best Video, Best Song, Best Female and Biggest Fans, at the MTV European Music Awards (EMA) at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on November 6, 2011. AFP PHOTO / PETER MUHLY (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)




  • US pop star Lady Gaga performs on stage


    US pop star Lady Gaga performs on stage at the MTV European Music Awards (EMA) at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on November 6, 2011. Lady Gaga won Best Video, Best Song and Best female awards. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)