Lady Gaga to govt: Im not your creature

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Published : Wednesday, May 23, 2012 00:00
Article Views : 3,343
Written by : Euden Valdez


US pop singer Lady Gaga

DEFYING protests and possible censorship, US pop singer Lady Gaga told authorities that she is not their creature during her first Born This Way Ball concert at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Monday night.

Meanwhile, city government monitors have allowed the dance diva to hold her second show after ruling that her provocative act was within legal bounds.

Im not a creature of your government, Manila! Lady Gaga declared in front of cheering fanscalled little monstersbefore belting out Judas, which the conservative religious group Biblemode Youth Philippines had criticized as offensive.

Im not an alien, Im not a woman, Im not a man. Some people say I stand for things that are bad. The truth is, I want the best for every single one of you. My lifestyle is one whole performance of liberation. For those of you who arent free, take this opportunity to free yourself, she said.

About 40,000 people attended Mondays concert, among them local celebrities like Pupil frontman Ely Buendia, singer Jed Madela, starlet Iya Villania, doctor-turned-model Hayden Kho Jr. and aspiring entertainer Garrie Conc! epcion.< /p>

Outside the venue, police stopped placard-carrying protesters from approaching and peacefully dispersed them half a mile away. The protesters sang hymns while the concert was ongoing.

No violations
On Tuesday, Mayor Antonino Calixto of Pasay City said in a statement that officials who monitored Mondays show found no violations of the permit terms banning nudity, blasphemy and lewd conduct.

Admittedly, some of the statements and choreography were provocative but the content and presentation, taken all together, can be considered as part of an artists expressions that are protected by the Constitution, he added.

Therefore, the city government of Pasay sees no compelling or legal reason to disallow the second concert from proceeding, the mayor said.

In response, lawyer Romulo Macalintalone of those who sought to block Lady Gagas concertsaid that he was resigned to the local governments ruling.

They are the persons authorized by law and if that is their decision, I cannot do anything, I just leave it to God, he added.

With a report from AFP