While we all look forward to Lady Gaga's fashion antics and showstopping spectacles, it looks like Jo Calderone, Gaga's alter-ego in drag, just made people uncomfortable at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday.

Lady Gaga should take it as a compliment that she can't sell herself as a man. But it was disappointing to see the wrongheaded effort put into transforming her into a dude.

We're not saying Lady Gaga should have gotten testosterone injections -- just maybe a better wig.

Still, it was less the costume than the acting that made us cringe. We're not sure what she was going for with the sneering macho swagger, or the way she was looking at Britney Spears: Less like she was undressing Britney with her eyes, more like she was skinning her alive with her stare.

Lady Gaga 2011
Lady Gaga, dressed as a man, performs "You and I" with Brian May from Queen at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, August 28, 2011. Reuters
Lady Gaga
Singer Lady Gaga poses with her awards for Best Video with a Message and Best Female Video at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles August 28, 2011. Reuters
Lady Gaga VMA
Singer Lady Gaga poses with her awards for Best Video with a Message and Best Female Video at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles August 28, 2011. Reuters
Lady Gaga
Fortunately, this is NOT the face of contemporary masculinity. Reuters
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga, aka Jo Calderone, regards Britney Spears in awe while he/she decides whether to let her live. Reuters
Lady Gaga VMA
Britney wears a brave face as the predator inches closer. Reuters
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