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Lady Gaga isn’t thinking about bad romances any more. The Grammy- and Oscar-winning pop singer has found the one, and his name is Michael Polansky.
The executive director and cofounder of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy was first linked to Gaga back in 2020, and since then, they’ve made appearances at award shows, Super Bowls, and now, even the Olympics. It was at the Paris 2024 Games that Gaga revealed she and Polansky are engaged.
Ahead, we take a look back at their relationship, from their early days of COVID dating to their soon-to-be married life.
September 25, 2024: He supports her at a London premiere.
Polansky supports Gaga at the London premiere of her psychological thriller Joker: Folie à Deux, and the two look so in love as they embrace on the red carpet. The actor channels her character, Harley Quinn, in a dramatic red Celine gown and harlequin makeup, while the entrepreneur looks sharp in a classic black suit and tie.
September 5, 2024: They candidly speak out about their love story.
Gaga and Polansky open up about their romance, revealing candid details about how they met and why their relationship works in a new interview.
“My mom met him and she said to me, ‘I think I just met your husband,’ and I said, ‘I’m not ready to meet my husband,’ ” Gaga recalls, referring to mom Cynthia Germanotta initially meeting Polansky through philanthropic work. “I could never have imagined that my mom … found the most perfect person for me?”
The two recall meeting each other for the first time at a friend’s birthday party. “I got invited and I said, ‘I wonder if Michael is going to be there,’ and my mom said yes, and so I went to the party and I kept asking for him and he finally came over to me and we talked for three hours. We had the most amazing conversation,” says Gaga. Polansky adds, “I didn’t know much about her and honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. I was struck immediately by her warmth and openness—she was so genuinely curious about what my life was like growing up in Minnesota.”
Gaga says their relationship—and the quality time they spent while quarantining together during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020—helps ground her to reality. “It was really kind of special,” she says. “I’d been so focused on my career since I was a teenager. And the gift of that time was that I got to completely focus on my relationship. I met this totally supportive, loving human being who wanted to get to know me—outside of Lady Gaga.”
She continues, “It was very painful to see how deeply it affected the world. Not only how sick people got, so many people died, but also so many people were alone. I feel very grateful that I wasn’t alone. I had never met anyone like Michael. He’s so smart and so kind. And his life and my life are very different. He’s a very private guy and he’s not with me for any other reason than that we are right for each other.”
Of quarantining together, Polansky says, “We had this amazing chapter of a weird kind of normalcy. That’s essential for any relationship to develop in a real way—taking walks, making coffee, hanging out with the dogs, reading books together …. The pandemic was easier on her than you might think. She’s used to being isolated because of her fame and was able to take so much of it in stride. I think she loved the chance to slow down. She’s been operating at an unfathomable level of intensity for years and it’s no secret it had caught up to her.”
Polansky has also been a valuable addition to Gaga’s support system. “What I want my fans to know is that I’m just, like, so happy. I’m healthy,” the singer explains. “I feel like the last time they heard from me—in this way—was Chromatica, and that album was about an absolutely horrible time for me with my mental health. I was in a really dark place. I struggled for, like, many years before that. But everything started to change. Because I had a real friend who saw the ways in which I was unhappy and why. And he wasn’t afraid to truly hold my hand. And get to know me. On a very deep level.”
September 4, 2024: They walk the red carpet together for the first time.
Days after arriving in Venice together, Polansky joins Gaga for the red-carpet premiere of Joker: Folie à Deux, marking their first-ever red-carpet appearance together. For the occasion, Gaga wears a dramatic Dior Haute Couture ball gown while Polansky wears a classic tuxedo.
September 2, 2024: They make their Venice Film Festival debut.
The pair arrives in Italy for the 81st Venice International Film Festival, looking so in love in coordinating black ensembles. Gaga wears a polka-dot minidress with shimmery tights, black pumps, and black shades. On her left hand, she flashes her massive diamond engagement ring. Polansky goes casual in a dark blue shacket, which he layers over a black polo and pairs with matching pants, sneakers, and shades.
July 28, 2024: Gaga reveals their engagement at the Olympics.
Following a couple months of speculation, Gaga reveals that she and Polansky are engaged, in a video captured at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
She spills the news by referring to her beau as her “fiancé” in a video that captures her meeting Gabriel Attal, the prime minister of France. While wearing a patriotic Team USA jacket, she hugs the prime minister and turns to gesture to Polansky, saying: “My fiancé.” Attal then posted the video on his official TikTok account, writing, “Thank you Lady Gaga for your stunning performance at the opening ceremony. It was breathtaking. 🤩🫶.” Guess the cat’s out of the bag now.
April 2024: Gaga sparks engagement rumors.
After nearly half a decade with Polansky, Gaga sparks engagement rumors when she is spotted with a ring on that finger in West Hollywood.
Vogue later confirms that the two did indeed get engaged in April, with the proposal happening “after a day of rock climbing.”
February 2024: Gaga and Michael get festive for the Super Bowl.
The happy couple seemingly have their preferred haunts, one of them being the Super Bowl. The annual NFL championship game was the scene of one of their first public outings together, in 2020, and they return in 2024 to watch the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the San Francisco 49ers (with the victory ultimately going to the Chiefs).
For the game, the two dress festively—showing their support for San Francisco—with Gaga sporting a bedazzled SF varsity jacket and eye glitter to match, while Polansky wears a red 49ers jersey.
October 2023: The couple heads to an SNL after-party in NYC.
Almost two weeks after their concert-stuffed weekend in Vegas, Gaga and Polansky are spotted heading to a Saturday Night Live afterparty at L’Avenue in New York City. Gaga has a cameo on the sketch series that night, stepping out afterward in a black leather coat with silver fringe decorating the chest. She keeps the rest of the look monochromatic, adding inky pants, a black handbag, and—in typical Gaga fashion—towering platform boots to match. Polansky wears a black tee under a gray jacket, which he pairs with navy slacks and steel-blue sneakers.
October 9, 2023: The couple attends a pair of concerts in Vegas.
Gaga and Polansky have quite the packed weekend in Vegas, where their nights are spent not gambling, but seeing two major concerts: U2 and Katy Perry. Videos captured by fans show the couple enjoying the shows.
March 2022: The pair attends back-to-back award ceremonies.
Talk about a double take. In the span of a single day, Gaga and Polansky attend two high-profile award shows together: the 2022 BAFTAs and the Critics’ Choice Awards.
At the BAFTAs, the two get some screen time when host Rebel Wilson goes around distributing golden bras and singles out Polansky, handing him the bra for “Best Plus One”—causing Gaga to hide her face in her hands. “Are you Lady Gaga’s plus-one?” Wilson asks the exec. “That is a good gig.” Gaga then jokingly takes the bra from Polansky, hiding it under her Ralph Lauren dress.
After this comical moment, the two quickly hop on a plane and fly to their next destination—the Critics’ Choice Awards in Los Angeles, where Gaga stuns on the red carpet in a gold and black gown from Gucci. Although she walks the carpet alone, Polansky later joins Gaga inside the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel.
November 2021: Gaga says Michael is her “whole life.”
In a profile for The Hollywood Reporter, Gaga once again professes her adoration for Polansky.
Discussing an incident in which one of her dog walkers, Ryan Fischer, was attacked in West Hollywood, she notes: “Everybody’s okay, everybody’s healing. I pray for Ryan all the time. I’m so grateful that we did not lose him. And every day I thank God for the safe return of my dogs. My dogs and the man that I love are my whole life.”
March 28, 2021: Michael sends Gaga flowers as she films House of Gucci in Rome.
Gaga spend her 35th birthday in Italy filming the Ridley Scott–directed House of Gucci. However, she still receives some love from home when she gets a surprise gift from Polansky.
On Instagram, Gaga shares an image of herself hugging a giant bouquet of flowers. “When your bf sends you all the flowers in Rome for your birthday. I love you honey 💕,” she writes. “I can’t wait to be home with you and our dogs, that’s all I need.
January 20, 2021: Michael supports Gaga at the presidential inauguration.
When Gaga performs at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Polansky is there by her side. In fact, he sits right beside Gaga onstage, while next to them, Jennifer Lopez is flanked by her fiancé at the time, Alex Rodriguez.
May 31, 2020: They hold hands during a coffee date.
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, Gaga and Polansky are spotted in Los Angeles holding hands as they grab coffee—masked up, of course. Gaga looks sporty in a strappy black bra top and matching mesh leggings while carrying a pink quilted bag on her back. Polansky wears a gray long-sleeved top, black gym shorts, and neon-orange sneakers.
April 18, 2020: Gaga calls Michael the “love of her life.”
In an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Gaga reveals she’s falling fast and hard for Polansky.
As she discusses her Born This Way Foundation and its plans to help people with mental health struggles during the coronavirus pandemic, Gaga casually alludes to Polansky, calling him the “love of her life.”
“With Born This Way Foundation, my mother, Cynthia Germanotta, and our cofounder Maya [Enista Smith], who I love so very much—they are working with my—the love of my life, on something for mental health,” she says.
March 18, 2020: They start quarantining together.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hits, Gaga and Polansky get cozy and start quarantining together. The singer documents the moment on Instagram, with a selfie that sees her and Polansky matching in black.
“Day 6 of self-quarantining!,” she writes. “Going strong, playing video games and cards, and taking care of ourselves. Important reminder: keep your mind as stress free as possible and your body moving. #selflove #selfcare #bekind try not to pass it in case you have it #corona it’s ok and so wonderful to stay home if you can! What a kind act for the world ❤️.”
March 6, 2020: Gaga hints that “Stupid Love” is about Michael.
Leading up to the release of her sixth studio album, Chromatica, Gaga drops the debut single, “Stupid Love,” whose lyrics describe finding a soulmate. “You’re the one that I’ve been waiting for / Gotta quit this cryin’, nobody’s gonna / Heal me if I don’t open the door / Kinda hard to believe, gotta have faith in me,” she sings.
Upon the release of “Stupid Love,” Gaga suggests the song is about her new beau when she shares a selfie with Polansky on Instagram. “I’ve got a STUPID love💕,” she writes under a photo of them cuddling up on a plane.
February 15, 2020: Gaga shares Valentine’s Day pic with Michael.
Mere weeks after taking their relationship public, Gaga shares a Valentine’s Day selfie with Polansky, in which it’s clear they’ve just recently shared a kiss (which Gaga jokes about in the caption).
“Happy Valentine’s Day!!,” Mother Monster writes, before quoting Polansky: ‘Babe, do I have lipstick all-over me?’ 😂#valentines ❤️💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💕🧚♀️.”
She closes by adding, “Happy v-day to all my monsters!!! I love you!!! ❤️😘🎈.”
February 3, 2020: Gaga goes Instagram official with Michael.
In their first public outing, Gaga and Polansky are spotted at Super Bowl LIV together, in a video captured by a fan that sees the pair watching Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s halftime show.
The following day, Gaga decides to make their relationship Instagram official when she posts a snap of herself sitting in Polansky’s lap while he wraps his arms around her. “We had so much fun in Miami,” the singer writes in her caption. “Love to all my little monsters and fans, you’re the best! ❤️”
In the photo, the “Poker Face” singer wears a black fishnet dress over a cerulean two-piece, which she accessorizes with dangly silver earrings. Polansky looks at her romantically while wearing a black tee.
December 31, 2019: The two spend New Year’s Eve together.
Initial speculation around Gaga and Polansky’s relationship begins on New Year’s Eve, when fan videos posted to Twitter show the pair leaving a hotel together in Vegas and holding hands as they walk to their car.
Gaga glitters in a gold asymmetric maxi dress, which she pairs with black platform heels and a large feathery boa that she carries with her. Polansky looks more understated in a black button-up and gray slacks, which he accessorizes with black and white sneakers.
December 2019: Sparks fly at a birthday party.
It seems that Polansky, who runs tech investor Sean Parker’s umbrella organization, the Parker Foundation, likely first met Gaga at a charitable event.
When the news of their relationship first emerged, Page Six wrote: “Sources say [Polansky] and Gaga likely have known each other for a while through events Parker has hosted at his L.A. mansion including for his foundation, and connected again at the social network founder’s birthday party last December.”
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