The Starr Report has learned that Gaga bested finalists Charlie Sheen, Mel Gibson, Lindsay Lohan and Miley Cyrus for the highly coveted honor, bestowed each year by the popular entertainment show anchored by AJ Hammer and Brooke Anderson.
“The key was that the mention of Lady Gaga’s name sparks a visceral reaction,” the New York Post quoted the show’s executive producer David Levine as saying.
“And she’s had the most continued interest among all the nominees. She became the first person to reach 1 billion [views] on YouTube and she has 6 million followers on Twitter.
“She’s given passionate speeches at the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell rally in Portland [Maine] and her plea to end bullying had an impact. She also revealed that she has Lupus and then there was ‘the finger’ incident at the Mets game.
“She also has a hit album. Her reach is immeasurable,” Levine said.
Levine said roughly 40 HLN and CNN staffers vote on the “Most Provocative Celebrity of the Year” selection — and only four votes went for Lohan.
“The day before we voted, it was down to Lohan and Charlie Sheen. It was a little obvious and I sent out a note to everyone telling them it was their last opportunity [to nominate someone],” he said.
“Somebody threw Lady Gaga’s name into the ranks; we hadn’t really discussed her…and when we told AJ and Brooke, they were like, ‘That’s a no-brainer,’” Levine added.
Britney Spears snared the honor in 2006 and 2007, with Sarah Palin winning in 2008 and Jon Gosselin in 2009.
