In Miami last weekend, a pair of Twitter posts from Lady Gaga’s tour-ending show racked up over a million views and spawned a meme for the ages: Dollar Tree Gaga.
The social media saga started last Saturday night when a thunderstorm cut short Gaga’s final show on her Chromatica Ball world tour at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
Fans rushed from the pouring rain and threats of a lightning strike into the stadium’s concourse. In the melee, a Gaga stan dressed as the Mother Monster herself pushed through the crowd only to realize she was being followed, and guarded — by Gaga’s own security detail.
With bodyguards at the drag queen’s back, fans in the crowded concourse fell victim to the same case of mistaken identity, literally screaming for the Born This Way superstar that wasn’t.
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The Little Monsters whipsawed from delight to disappointment and back again as the object of confusion revealed her true identity: “I’m a drag queen!” she shouted.
The LoveGame lookalike? None other than popular Gaga stan and drag queen Penelopy Jean.
Jean posted video of her walk of fame to Twitter soon after, with the caption: “The moment when security realized I wasn’t Gaga 🤣. #ChromaticaBall #chromaticaballmiami #gaga #ladygaga”
The look on the security guard’s face as he realizes he’s trailing the wrong Gaga deserves a round of applause all its own.
The moment when security realized I wasn’t Gaga 🤣 #ChromaticaBall #chromaticaballmiami #gaga #ladygaga pic.twitter.com/uQ93zRpIzk
— Dollar Tree Gaga (@PenelopyJean) September 19, 2022
Minutes later, a Twitter user uploaded a second installment of Jean’s Perfect Illusion, featuring an even more ravenous crowd and adding an instantly infamous descriptor: Dollar Tree Gaga.
“Last Chromatica Ball getting cut short from lightning… fans singing rain on me in the pouring rain and clapping thunder.. fans thinking dollar tree Gaga is the real thing… oh this last show is so camp.”
Last Chromatica Ball getting cut short from lightning… fans singing rain on me in the pouring rain and clapping thunder.. fans thinking dollar tree Gaga is the real thing… oh this last show is so camp pic.twitter.com/sVxnRDYRBR
— chris (@wheresmywigggg) September 18, 2022
Penelope Jean snatched up the new handle like she’d Never Love Again, and the two posts blew up like Heavy Metal Lovers in a microwave.
The night ended as the storm delivered a rimshot to stadium deadenders singing Rain on Me, like the real Gaga had produced it herself.
Fans singing ‘Rain On Me’ as it rains in Miami. pic.twitter.com/bmi2zbCFuT
— Lady Gaga Now 🧠 (@ladygaganownet) September 18, 2022
