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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sorry, ‘Star Is Born’ fans: Lady Gaga shuts down Bradley Cooper romance rumors

Bradley Cooper, left, and Lady Gaga react to the audience after a performance of “Shallow” from “A Star is Born” at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Chris Pizzello / Invision/Associated Press)
By Nardine Saad Los Angeles Times

Any glimmer of hope for a real-life romance between Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper was patently snuffed out by Gaga herself on Wednesday.

With her newly won Oscar in tow, the actress-musician appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and set the record straight about her relationship with her costar and director on the musical film. She probably felt compelled to do so after their steamy performance at Sunday’s Academy Awards destroyed intimacy for every couple who watched it.

So is the newly single Gaga having an affair with the director (whose supermodel girlfriend Irina Shayk was his Oscars date)?

Cue Gaga’s massive eye roll and a long-winded, if not exasperated, backstory.

“First of all, social media, quite frankly, is the toilet of the internet and what it has done to pop culture is just, like, abysmal,” Gaga told Kimmel of the online speculation.

“Yes, people saw love, and guess what, that’s what we wanted you to see,” she said. “This is a love song, ‘Shallow.’ The movie, ‘A Star Is Born,’ it’s a love story.

“We worked so hard,” she said.

“From a performance perspective, it was so important to both of us that we were connected the entire time,” she added. “Look, I’ve had my arms wrapped around Tony Bennett for three years touring the world. I mean, when you’re singing love songs, that’s what you want people to feel.”

And, no, she’s not having an affair with Bennett, either.

“I’m an artist,” she added, “and I guess we did a good job. Fooled ya!”

For those who still prefer to live in denial and need to relive Ally and Jack’s romance, “A Star Is Born” returns to theaters for a week this Friday with 12 minutes of additional footage.