The Broadway legend says a favor for the pop star ended with deleted photos, a blocked exit and a grudge that still lingers.

Stephanie Mills has never been one to mince words, and she is not starting now.

The Broadway and R&B veteran took aim at Lady Gaga during a candid sit-down, labeling the pop superstar a culture vulture and recounting a behind-the-scenes encounter she says left her feeling slighted. The sting clearly has not faded, and Mills wants Gaga to own it.

A Request She Almost Turned Down

Mills shared the story during Wednesday’s episode of The Jason Lee Show, where she walked host Jason Lee through a day in New York that did not go the way she expected.

According to Mills, she was asked to perform Home, the signature ballad from The Wiz, for Gaga while the pop star was in the middle of a fashion shoot. The song holds deep meaning in Mills’ career. She originated the role of Dorothy in the 1975 Broadway production and turned the number into one of the most beloved show tunes of its era.

At first, Mills said no. She eventually changed her mind and agreed to sing, a choice that set the stage for an encounter she still questions.

A Cold Reception in the Room

Mills described the scene as crowded, with Gaga surrounded by members of her team and accompanied by a small black dog. When Mills delivered the song, she said Gaga offered little in return. There was no smile and no visible reaction, Mills recalled, only a puzzled stare that made her feel as though she were something strange on display.

The arrangement, Mills explained, was never about money. She was not paid to perform. Instead, the photographer handling Gaga’s shoot was supposed to capture a fashion session of Mills in exchange for the song. That was the trade-off, as she understood it.

The Elevator Standoff

The most jarring moment came as Mills prepared to leave. After she finished singing and photos were taken, she said Gaga’s team instructed her to erase every picture from the encounter.

Mills claimed the request was not optional. As she and her group stood at the elevator ready to head out, she said the team would not let them leave until staffers confirmed that each image had been wiped from her phone.

Shaking her head as she recounted the moment, Mills summed it up as deeply disrespectful.

Why Mills Wants an Apology

When Lee pressed her on what explanation Gaga’s camp offered for the photo demand, Mills did not soften her stance. Instead, she circled back to her original point and once again called Gaga a culture vulture.

Mills admitted she hesitated before saying it publicly, appearing visibly nervous as she weighed whether to speak at all. But by the end of the conversation, her message was clear. She said she hopes Gaga sees the interview, remembers how the moment unfolded and offers the apology Mills believes she is owed.

The remarks carry weight coming from Mills, whose career spans decades and includes hits such as I Feel Good All Over. Her voice helped shape a generation of Black musical theater and R&B, which makes the culture vulture label land with particular force.

Fans Pick Sides Online

Reaction to the interview quickly split along familiar lines. In the comments, some viewers rallied behind Mills, with one declaring they would side with the Black woman in the story. Another commenter who claimed to have been around Gaga described the star as a bit odd in person and called the treatment of Mills disrespectful, adding that fame sometimes seems to strip people of basic warmth.

Others were far less sympathetic. Gaga’s defenders insisted the singer has a squeaky-clean reputation and rejected the culture vulture accusation outright, with some bluntly telling Mills to drop the matter. One fan agreed that culture vultures do exist but argued this situation simply did not fit the description.

Whether audiences side with Mills or not, the veteran entertainer has made one thing plain. The encounter still bothers her, and she is not letting it go quietly. If Gaga happens to be watching, Mills has left the door open for one simple gesture: an apology she believes is long overdue.

Source: The Root