BANGKOK – Lady Gaga wants to go shopping in Bangkok — for a fake Rolex.

The singer made the comment to her 24 million Twitter followers, sparking an online uproar Thursday in Thailand where some fans called it offensive, insulting and bad for the country’s image.

It’s the latest publicity-making turn of events as “The Born This Way Ball” travels through Asia.

Lady Gaga’s provocative lyrics and costumes have angered Christian groups in South Korea and the Philippines and Islamists in Indonesia, where the show may be banned.

Now she is stirring nationalist fervor in Thailand, where people tend to get upset when the country’s seedy underworld is highlighted by outsiders.

“We are more civilized than you think,” tweeted Thai DJ Surahit Siamwalla, who has a ticket to today’s show in Bangkok but said he plans to boycott.

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“She came to our home, but instead of admiring us she insulted us,” said a commentator on popular Thai web board pantip.com.

Lady Gaga posted her tweet shortly after her private jet arrived Wednesday night: “I just landed in Bangkok baby! Ready for 50,000 screaming Thai monsters. I wanna get lost in a lady market and buy fake Rolex.”

It is unclear what a “lady market” is but some Thai fans assumed she meant the popular outdoor Ladies Market in Hong Kong, where she already toured — and also eyed the luxury knockoffs.

“I love this city,” she tweeted April 30 after taking a Hong Kong spin class. “You can work out & buy a fake Birkin on the same street.”

Not all Thai fans objected to the off-color comment. A screaming mob greeted Lady Gaga at the airport. Crowds thronged her 5-star hotel, where she signed autographs and hugged one female fan who left in tears.

If Lady Gaga does have time to shop in Bangkok, she’ll see that the city has more to offer than just fake watches, Thai fan Nont Armarttasn sarcastically noted on his Facebook page.

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“Welcome to the land of counterfeit products, love,” he said. “I’m sure there are plenty of fake Gaga CDs, too.”

Elton John cancels Vegas performances

LAS VEGAS – Elton John is canceling three Las Vegas performances on doctors’ orders after being hospitalized with a respiratory infection.

Officials with Caesars Entertainment said the Thursday, Saturday and Sunday performances of “The Million Dollar Piano” are being canceled.

Show officials said Elton John came down with the infection last weekend and was admitted Wednesday to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was later released.

Doctors recommended he not perform for a week and take antibiotics.

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The singer said in a statement that he’s sorry he can’t be with his fans at The Colosseum.

Sharon Stone named in suit by ex-nanny

LOS ANGELES – A former nanny for Sharon Stone sued the actress Wednesday claiming the Oscar-winner repeatedly insulted her Filipino heritage and fired her after discovering she had been paid overtime.

Erlinda T. Elemen’s harassment lawsuit claims Stone insulted her accent, her religion and other aspects of her culture in the final months of her employment. Elemen worked for Stone for more than four years and was promoted to head nanny, a live-in position, but was fired after the actress discovered the overtime payments, the lawsuit claims.

The suit also claims Stone, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in “Casino,” forbade Elemen from reading the Bible in the actress’ home.

Stone’s publicist called Elemen a disgruntled former employee who first sought disability and worker’s compensation payments after she was fired 15 months ago.

– From news service reports


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