In whatâs becoming a viral moment across music discourse on TikTok and YouTube, yet another influencer has sparked fierce conversation online after boldly stating that Lady Gaga has âdefinitely stolen [Madonnaâs] entire career and artistic moves.â The statement came after the content creator watched the newly released Becoming Madonna documentary, a deep dive into the life, artistry, and cultural dominance of the woman long considered the blueprint for modern pop stardom.
While the influencerâs name is being eclipsed by the larger firestorm of fan reactions, their comments have ignited a wave of renewed respect for Madonnaâs contributions to music, fashion, feminism, and performance artâand a parallel wave of scrutiny over Lady Gagaâs artistic lineage.
The Documentary Thatâs Shifting Perception
Becoming Madonna, released earlier this year on a major streaming platform, has been hailed as one of the most comprehensive and artistically compelling documentaries ever made about the Queen of Pop. Tracing her journey from a struggling dancer in New York to a multi-generational icon, the film features rare archival footage, interviews with collaborators, critics, and academics, and in-depth analysis of her influence on nearly every female pop star to come after her.
The documentary doesnât shy away from controversyâit addresses Madonnaâs provocations, her feuds, her missteps, and her triumphs. But more than anything, it showcases her sheer innovation: her reinvention of image and sound, her boundary-pushing music videos, her cultural and political statements, and her constant refusal to be boxed in.
It was after watching this documentary that the influencerâone of many Gen Z or younger millennials now revisiting Madonnaâs legacyâmade the now-viral statement on TikTok:
âI just finished Becoming Madonna and I have to say itâthis woman invented the pop star. Like, every move Gaga has ever made? Madonna did it first, and probably better. Sheâs not just someone you should respectâsheâs someone you should listen to. Every. Single. Album.â
âGaga Stole Her Entire Careerâ?
The influencerâs comparison between Madonna and Lady Gaga is not exactly new territoryâbut the bluntness of the claim has reignited one of pop musicâs longest-running debates: Did Lady Gaga borrow, imitate, or outright replicate Madonnaâs artistic playbook?
Madonna and Gaga have long been compared, especially since Gagaâs The Fame era in 2008â2009. Critics pointed to parallels in fashion, performance art, religious iconography, and even vocal tone. The comparisons intensified when Gaga released Born This Way in 2011âa song many (including Madonna herself) felt was suspiciously similar to Express Yourself.
Madonna herself addressed the issue, calling Gagaâs song âreductiveâ in an infamous 2012 interview. Gaga, for her part, has always claimed to be inspired by Madonna but also insisted that her artistic identity is unique. Over time, the feud cooledâbut now, the resurgence of Madonnaâs legacy, especially among younger audiences watching Becoming Madonna, is casting fresh light on those earlier critiques.
TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) are now flooded with side-by-side comparisons of performances, costumes, interviews, and music videos. One trending montage shows Madonnaâs 1990 Blond Ambition tour side-by-side with Gagaâs Monster Ball, noting similar choreography, costumes, and use of religious motifs. Another viral post simply reads:
âMadonna walked so Gaga could moonwalk in her shadow.â
Madonnaâs Influence: Still Undefeated
Whatâs emerging from this renewed debate isnât necessarily a takedown of Gagaâitâs a re-centering of Madonna in the pop conversation. For years, some younger fans and influencers dismissed Madonna as âdatedâ or âproblematicâ without deeply engaging with her art. But Becoming Madonna is forcing a reappraisal.
The documentary highlights her role in normalizing LGBTQ+ identities in mainstream media, her pioneering use of sexuality and femininity as tools of power, and her ability to stay musically and culturally relevant across four decades. It also illustrates how Madonnaâs fearlessness in the â80s and â90s paved the way for artists like Britney Spears, BeyoncĂ©, Rihanna, Gaga, and even Taylor Swift.
The influencerâs viral statement reflects what many are now realizing: Madonna was never just a pop starâshe was and is the architecture of pop itself. Every reinvention, every controversy, every stylistic shift we now expect from modern artistsâMadonna did it first. And she did it with a singular, uncompromising vision.
Gaga, Madonna, and the Cycle of Influence
Of course, to say Lady Gaga âstoleâ Madonnaâs career is both provocative and simplistic. Gaga, too, is a groundbreaking artist in her own right. Her vocal range, genre fluidity, and theatrical ambition have carved out a unique space in pop history. Her work in A Star Is Born, Chromatica, and her Las Vegas residency shows that sheâs more than an imitatorâsheâs a creator.
But the line between homage and imitation is blurry, especially in pop music, where image and reference are part of the artistry. What this influencerâand many othersâare doing is forcing fans to ask hard questions about authorship, originality, and how quickly culture forgets its pioneers.
In one widely shared TikTok video, a user responded to the controversy by saying:
âItâs not about hating Gagaâitâs about finally giving Madonna her flowers. Yâall wanna talk about feminism, activism, and pop power? Madonna wrote the textbook and bled for every page.â
A Legacy Reaffirmed
Regardless of where one stands in the Madonna vs. Gaga discourse, one thing is clear: Becoming Madonna is making an impact. The documentary has not only sparked critical acclaimâit has reignited interest in Madonnaâs discography across streaming platforms. Like a Prayer, Erotica, Ray of Light, and Confessions on a Dance Floor are seeing huge spikes in streams, particularly from Gen Z users.
Madonnaâs influence, long diluted by time, media noise, and tabloid caricature, is now being reabsorbed and reassessed by a generation that values depth, innovation, and authenticity.
Final Word: The Queen Remains
Influencer drama aside, what this moment reveals is that Madonnaâs legacy was never goneâit was simply waiting to be revisited with fresh eyes. And now that it has been, many are realizing that the crown never left her head.
Whether Gaga borrowed or was inspired, whether influencers speak in exaggerations or truths, the core fact remains: Madonna didnât just shape popâshe is pop. And thanks to Becoming Madonna, a whole new generation is finally listening.
And maybe thatâs what Madonna wanted all alongânot revenge, not validation, just for her work to be seen, heard, and felt. As it always was: bold, brilliant, and unapologetically ahead of its time.