Having got wind that a group of anti-gay protesters was planning to picket her concert in St. Louis, Missouri over the weekend, the outspoken pop singer and gay icon went on Twitter and Facebook to urge her “monsters” (what she calls her fans) to ignore the protesters and "not waste your words, or feelings, no matter what you hear or see."
Stationed outside the pop star's concert venue on Saturday night, the protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church – infamously known for picketing the funeral of murdered gay student Matthew Shepard – armed with signs reading "God hates Lady Gaga" denounced Gaga for using her art form to teach "rebellion against God" and called her fans "gender-confused, self loathing and tone deaf," Rolling Stone magazine reported.
Monster Ball tour reportedly nets US$20,000 per show for a New York charity that works with homeless LGBT youth.
Preempting the group's protest, Gaga posted on her Facebook page where she has 13 million fans – the most fans any living person has – and tweeted a lengthy multi-part message to her five million fans to warn them of potential clashes with the "hateful organization."
She urged concert-goers to ignore the protestors writing: "Although we have had protesters before, as well as fundamentalists at the show, this group of protesters are hate criminals and preach using lewd and violent language and imagery that I wish I protect you all from. Their message is of hatred and divisiveness, but inside at the Monsterball we preach love and unity.
"My request to all little monsters and public authorites is to pay these hate criminals no mind. Do not interact with them, or try to fight, Do not respond to any of their provocation. Don't waste your words, or feelings, no matter what you hear or see you are more fortunate and blessed than they are, and in your heart just pray for them. Although I respect and do not judge anyone for their personal views on any politics or religion, this group in particular to me, is violent and dangerous...
"Be inspired to ignore their ignorant message, and feel gratitude in your heart that you are not burdened or addicted to hate, as they are."
She tweeted at the end of the concert: "Tonight love and hate met in St. Louis. And love outnumbered the hate, in poetic thousands. Hate left. But love stayed. + Together, we sang."