Lady Gaga Responds to People Who Think She's 'Making Up' Her Chronic Pain

Just four days after canceling a performance at Rock in Rio in Brazil due to chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia, Lady Gaga announced that she is also postponing the six-week European leg of her Joanne World Tour. In a lengthy Twitter post last night, she responded to those who have questioned her illness and the effect it’s had on her performances.

• What is Fibromyalgia?
• What Are Common Fibromyalgia Symptoms?

Gaga posted a photo of herself holding rosary beads and a statement about the tour postponement, along with a note explaining that she’s been “searching for years” to get to the bottom of “complicated and difficult to explain” physical and mental health struggles. She said as she gets stronger and feels ready, she plans to tell her story in more depth and “take this on strongly” so she can raise awareness and expand research for others who suffer as she does.

“I use the word ‘suffer’ not for pity, or attention, and have been disappointed to see people online suggest that I’m being dramatic, making this up, or playing the victim to get out of touring. If you knew me, you would know this couldn’t be further from the truth,” Gaga wrote. “I’m a fighter. I use the word suffer not only because trauma and chronic pain have changed my life, but because they are keeping me from living a normal life. They are also keeping me from what I love the most in the world: performing for my fans.”

She said she’s looking forward to touring again soon, but has to be with her doctors now so she can “perform for you all for the next 60 years or more.”

To my fans, I love you so much. pic.twitter.com/g2BmmSx02v

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) September 18, 2017

The European leg of Gaga’s tour was scheduled to begin on September 21 in Barcelona and conclude on October 28 in Koln, Germany. According to the statement, Gaga plans to spend the next seven weeks working with doctors to heal from her physical pain and “past traumas that still affect her daily life, and result in severe physical pain in her body.”

The second North American leg of the tour is scheduled to continue as planned and the canceled European shows will be rescheduled. Gaga’s Netflix documentary, which will show her experience with fibromyalgia, begins streaming on September 22.

Read Gaga’s full response below:

I have always been honest about my physical and mental health struggles. Searching for years to get to the bottom of them. It is complicated and difficult to explain, and we are trying to figure it out. As I get stronger and when I feel ready, I will tell my story in more depth, and plan to take this on strongly so I can not only raise awareness, but expand research for others who suffer as I do, so I can help make a difference. I use the word “suffer” not for pity, or attention, and have been disappointed to see people online suggest that I’m being dramatic, making this up, or playing the victim to get out of touring. If you knew me, you would know this couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m a fighter. I use the word suffer not only because trauma and chronic pain have changed my life, but because they are keeping me from living a normal life. They are also keeping me from what I love the most in the world: performing for my fans. I am looking forward to touring again soon, but I have to be with my doctors right now so I can be strong and perform for you all for the next 60 years or more. I love you so much.