PETA Slams Lady Gaga’s Grammys Look Over Use Of Feathers

Lady Gaga made it clear she’s firmly back in her theatrical era when she stormed the Grammy stage with a bold performance that left the audience on its feet, and animal-rights activists fired up online. The 39-year-old pop icon delivered a rock-leaning reimagining of her hit single “Abracadabra,” ditching the full troupe of dancers featured in the music video and instead owning the stage solo. Mostly obscured beneath an elaborate, eye-like headpiece and dramatic feathered styling, Lady Gaga belted out the track with raw intensity. As the performance wrapped, cameras captured the crowd rising to their feet in approval, but PETA was not a fan of Lady Gaga's on-stage moment.

Gaga entered the 2026 ceremony as one of the night’s most decorated contenders. Already a 14-time Grammy winner, she earned seven nominations this year, second only to Kendrick Lamar, including nods for Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Dance Pop Recording, and Best Traditional Pop Album.

But while the performance wowed fans inside the arena, it also sparked backlash online.

Shortly after Gaga’s appearance, PETA took aim at her feather-heavy look, posting a graphic that read, “Lady Gaga, let birds keep their feathers,” alongside a message criticizing the use of feathers in fashion. The organization argued that feathers “belong on birds” and suggested the look sent the wrong message, especially during such a high-profile broadcast.

"I agree, especially since she has a vegan makeup brand," one fan pointed out. "I wish she'd actually be consistent. And yes, I know she used to wear a meat dress, but I would hope she'd evolve past that."

Others called Gaga's choice to wear the dress "disappointing," while one user expressed, "Cruelty doesn’t sound good on you!"

Not everyone agreed with PETA’s criticism, with many fans quickly jumping to Lady Gaga’s defense and questioning whether the feathers used in her Grammys look were real at all.

Several commenters pointed out that Gaga has publicly avoided wearing animal-derived fashion in recent years, suggesting the outrage may be misplaced. “Is there evidence that they’re real?” one fan asked. “Gaga stopped wearing outfits made from animal origins years ago. A lot of her fans are animalists.”

Others echoed similar doubts, questioning how anyone could determine the material based on a single image. “How are we sure it’s not faux feathers?” one person wrote, while another added, “How does anyone know if they’re real or fake? That’s kind of hard to tell just from a photo.”

This isn’t the first time Lady Gaga has found herself at odds with PETA over her fashion choices.

Back in 2010, Gaga sparked massive backlash when she hit the MTV Video Music Awards wearing her now-infamous meat dress, crafted entirely from raw flank steak. The look instantly became one of the most talked-about moments in awards-show history, and one of PETA’s most criticized.

At the time, the animal rights organization condemned the outfit as “offensive,” arguing that the shock value didn’t justify the message. “There are more people who are upset by butchery than who are impressed by it,” PETA said in response to the dress.

After wearing the raw flank steak outfit to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, Gaga later explained her intent during a post-show interview with "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," making it clear the look wasn’t meant as an attack on animal rights supporters. “It’s certainly no disrespect to anyone that’s vegan or vegetarian,” Gaga told Ellen DeGeneres. “As you know, I’m the most judgment-free human being on the Earth.”

She went on to explain the symbolism behind the headline-making outfit, saying it carried a deeper message about standing up for personal freedoms. “It has many interpretations, but for me this evening it’s [saying], ‘If we don’t stand up for what we believe in, if we don’t fight for our rights, pretty soon we’re going to have as many rights as the meat on our bones.’”

At the end of the day, fans know that Lady Gaga’s fashion has never been about playing it safe.