Rising from a coffin marked “HERE LIES THE MOTHER” feels perfectly on-brand for an artist who’s never met a dramatic entrance she couldn’t elevate. Lady Gaga’s Netflix Tudum 2025 performance transformed what could have been a standard promotional appearance into a full-scale gothic spectacle that had your Twitter feed buzzing for hours. When the platform streamed this live on May 31st, they essentially handed Gaga the keys to close their biggest fan event of the year—and she delivered like someone who understands why we’re all still obsessed with Wednesday Addams.
The setlist read like a fever dream curated specifically for your dark academia playlist. “Zombieboy” got its first televised performance, followed by a “Bloody Mary” interlude that nodded to the viral TikTok trend from Wednesday’s first season, before culminating in “Abracadabra”—all while dancers dressed as Wednesday, Lurch, and Thing created the kind of macabre dinner party you’d want to attend.
What separates this from typical celebrity cross-promotion is how naturally Lady Gaga‘s current musical era aligns with the Addams Family aesthetic. Her Mayhem album already explores darker sonic territories that make perfect sense within Wednesday’s world—no awkward shoehorning required like Madonna’s attempt at electronica in the late ’90s. Netflix’s strategy here demonstrates how streaming platforms leverage live events as subscriber magnets, creating “you had to be there” moments that drive engagement beyond traditional content drops. The performance wasn’t just a teaser for her March release—it was a carefully crafted preview of Gaga’s Mayhem-era rollout, blending artistic vision with gothic spectacle.
The announcement that she’ll portray Rosaline Rotwood, a legendary Nevermore Academy teacher, adds intriguing depth to Wednesday Season 2’s narrative possibilities. Unlike celebrity guest spots that feel like marketing stunts, Gaga’s casting suggests a serious commitment to the show’s mythology. Her character will cross paths with Wednesday Addams in Part 2 of Season 2, premiering September 3rd, following Part 1’s August 6th debut (official Netflix release schedule)—a promising addition if you’re looking for a TV show after watching some of the underrated movies worth streaming this weekend.
This performance proves that when artists fully commit to a creative concept rather than just fulfilling promotional obligations, everyone benefits. Your streaming queue gets richer content, the artist explores new creative territories, and platforms like Netflix get moments that feel genuinely special rather than manufactured. Gaga’s eight-minute performance concluded with her returning to the coffin marked “Here lies the monster queen”—a perfect encapsulation of how she’s transformed promotional appearances into legitimate artistic statements that advance both her career trajectory and Netflix’s cultural dominance. The collaboration signals a new paradigm where pop superstars and streaming content creators recognize their mutual power to shape each other’s artistic legacies rather than simply borrowing audience appeal.
