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On Twitter/X, a wonderful tweet went viral on February 22, 2025.

User @doxie_gay wrote:


“BTW, I worked at G*tty Images, and they have an internal list of celebrity relationships with photographers (so when an event occurs, they basically negotiate which photographers to send out, depending on attendance). And guess who has the best relationship with everyone? Lady Gaga.”



lady gaga snl GIFlady gaga snl GIFGiphy


They continue,

“I guess you could even say she’s the… Perfect Celebrity… I was told that celebrity-photographer relationships in modern times had fallen off because newer celebrities are brats about their fame or simply don’t take the time to understand the art of the photo, and Lady Gaga was one person who followed the old-school ways of maintaining close relationships and doing personal deals (for example, doing certain poses or having specific moments that are negotiated in advance.)”

On Reddit, where the tweet found an even larger audience, users were quick to chime in with similar praise. “I’ve read many of these ‘which celebrity is an asshole in real life’ threads on Reddit, and not even once have I read stories about Gaga being rude, unpolite, or just plain nasty,” wrote one user. “I’ve met her several times and [she] is truly the sweetest angel in person. Best celeb interaction I’ve ever had,” replied another.


On the edge of glory

However, for Chef Paola Velez, the heartfelt moment she shared with Lady Gaga eight years ago is more than just a cherished memory; it was an experience that changed the trajectory of her career forever.

Chef Velez also shared her celebrity encounter with Lady Gaga on Twitter/X, where she posted a six-part thread. Years ago, as a budding line cook, Chef Velez faced the exhilarating challenge of a lifetime: preparing a vegan meal for Lady Gaga. “I’ve always been a sweet and savory cook,” she writes. “So when [Lady Gaga’s] ticket came in, it needed to be modified to vegan, which was one of my special interests back then.” Determined to go above and beyond, she refused to simply scoop sorbet into a cup (“which would have been the easy way to close out a vegan table,” describes Velez), opting for an innovative hand-crafted vegan dessert instead.


Screenshot of tweetFrom Paola VelezTwitter/X


Her dedication and creativity did not go unnoticed. Impressed, Lady Gaga requested to meet the young chef. It was a brief yet endlessly impactful interaction in which Gaga offered Chef Velez words of encouragement. She even floated the idea of Velez joining her on tour as a personal chef—a true testament to both Velez’s talent and the pop star’s renowned generosity towards other artists. “Within minutes, she asked to see the cook [who] made the dessert,” remembers Velez. “Me and the server were all giddy because (LADY GAGA SAID WHAT!?) And when I tell you she was nothing but a ray of encouragement and was so respectful and acknowledged what I did for her.”

This encounter left an indelible mark on Chef Velez, bolstering her confidence and providing a feeling of “being seen” in an industry that can often seem thankless. “Her positivity and respect shaped a portion of my self-esteem as a chef,” she writes. “I felt seen for the first time in a long time. In a job where I was a fly on the wall, it was a wonderful memory that I hold dear as I cheer for Lady Gaga from the sidelines.”



Put your paws up for Chef Paola Velez

Since that pivotal moment, Chef Velez's career has absolutely blossomed. She’s an award-winning Afro-Dominican chef, activist, and author, who was born in the Bronx (New York) and is currently based in Washington D.C. Her accolades are astounding: she’s a chef-owner at Providencia (a neighborhood wine bar in D.C.) and at Doeki Doeki, a dinner series that provides a “culinary adventure like no other.” The experienced executive pastry chef was also named one of Food & Wine’s “Best New Chefs” in 2021 and Esquire’s “Pastry Chef of the Year.”

Beyond the kitchen, Velez is a formidable force in social advocacy. She also co-founded Bakers Against Racism, a global movement mobilizing bakers to support social justice causes. Her energetic online presence, coupled with some extreme baking skills, has led Velez to high-profile collaborations with Selena Gomez and Zooey Deschanel, solidifying her status as a beloved food media personality. Through her work, Velez continuously blends culinary excellence with her commitments to equality and community.


Love It Cooking GIF by MaxSelena loves it! Giphy


Lady Gaga: Mother Monster and a beacon of kindness

Lady Gaga is no stranger to kindness, in fact, her interaction with Chef Velez is one of many instances that showcase her genuine support for others. In 2012, she co-founded the Born This Way Foundation with her mother, Cynthia Germanotta. The foundation aims to empower youth, improve mental health, and prevent bullying.

In 2023, Lady Gaga performed a special tribute to Tony Bennett and stressed the importance of friendship with “elders,” saying “our age difference doesn’t matter. In fact, it gave us each something neither of us had with most people.” She has been involved in numerous charitable initiatives, like Los Angeles’ FireAid benefit concert in 2025, where she left her mark by debuting a brand-new song, “All I Need Is Time.” Her unwavering dedication to uplifting others both through her global platform and day-to-day personal interactions forever cements her reputation as a wonderful human being.


GIF by Mia PageHeart eyesGiphy


Kindness can have a ripple effect, you know

In a world where “success” is often measured by external factors like achievements, money, status, and wealth, the small encounter between Chef Paola Velez and Lady Gaga back in 2017 exemplifies the power of kindness and recognition. Such moments can inspire confidence, fuel passion, and catalyze personal and professional growth.

More For You

A gay man in Vegas was approached by a 40-year-old stranger asking for advice on raising his son

A gay man in Vegas was approached by a 40-year-old stranger asking for advice on raising his son

Jack Remmington got a surprise he says he’ll never forget. While playing the slots in Las Vegas he and his friend were approached by a middle-aged man they had never met who wanted to know if they were gay. Although it was a relatively safe public space, you never know what might happen in a city fueled by alcohol, sex and gambling.

Source: GIPHY

Instead, the man who approached Remmington wanted to ask some perfectly wholesome advice about communicating with his young son whom he thinks is probably still in the closet. Remmington wrote about the interaction on his Twitter page and the breakdown has quickly gone viral for the best reasons. “Ok I just experienced the nicest exchange with a stranger and think it’ll help to share: I was playing on the Mariah Carey slots in Vegas (naturally) and a friendly circa-mid-40s ish guy sat down to play on the machine next to me,” Remmington wrote.

"I was sitting with @marcoalessifilm, both wearing pink (naturally) and after chatting a little to the guy about Vegas, he nervously asked if he could ask us a question. I knew where this was gonna go as it always does so did a bit of an inner eye roll but indulged him anyway."

"He then asked if we were together so we said no (we’re best friends and he has a fab bf) and he asked if we were gay, so we said yes. He then said he thinks his 13 year old son might be gay and wondered if he could ask us how best for him to navigate that."

"He lit up when talking about his son, and I nearly started crying at how much he clearly loved him. The guy wanted to know how to make his son feel most comfortable about himself whilst not being too overt and glaringly obvious in forcing a conversation about his sexuality."

Source: GIPHY

"This man is SO sweet. From rural Arkansas and said whilst things are so much better now, he still just wants the world to be totally equal for his son. Marco and I said he sounds like he’s doing all the right things and that making his son know he’s loved is the best he can do."

"We both gave a couple of anecdotes from personal experience, largely relating to condoning abstract things when you see them like normalising conversations around gay kisses on TV or calling our family conversations that might shame potential queerness."

"We also mentioned not accidentally policing things so as to shame him - for instance, often out of a sense of protection and love parents can frown on a child’s behaviour or outfit because they’re worried for their safety when on a night out etc."

Source: GIPHY

"But we stressed that if this was their feeling it’s important to vocalise this exactly, rather than leaving the child ruminating over the parent’s intentions and second guessing why they said what they said."

"So in terms of advice to friends or relatives of a potentially queer person, what would fellow queers advise is the best way to make it known they have their love and support without causing an uncomfortable conversation that might force someone to come out before they’re ready?"

You can read the whole thing on Remmington’s Twitter thread, here.

While it’s understandable that he and his friend were apprehensive about being approached, the exchange goes a long way toward showing we should never make too many hard assumptions about people based on their appearances alone.

Even in 2024, not every parent, child or friend has a safe space to educate themselves on LGBTQ issues.

Obviously, it would be ideal if this random guy had a friend, family member, or educator who could give him the advice he was looking for but we have to salute Remmington for being so generous and kind in his response. There’s so much we can learn from each other when we take the time to ask questions -- and listen.

Source: GIPHY

“My first impression was that he seemed nice as he chatted which is more than what tends to happen with people you sit next to in Vegas at the slots. That said, I didn’t expect it to take this turn at all,” Remmington said in an interview with Bored Panda.

“The relationship between him and his son has a 100% future – he was a wonderful and caring man, despite what he said was quite a difficult town to grow up in if you’re at all different. I wish all fathers could be like him.”

This article was originally published five years ago.

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