Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

The unexpected pairing’s chemistry in 2019’s A Star Is Born and its ensuing press tour made fans blind to the fact that the actor was dating Irina Shayk and the “Bad Romance” singer was engaged to Christian Carano at the time.

Still, it was clear that the costars had a close bond, with Gaga revealing that she had an “instant connection” with Cooper that came “the second that I saw him.”

Of course, that closeness was on full display when the pair took to the Oscars stage in 2019, hand-in-hand, to perform their Best Song-winning number, “Shallow,” just days after Gaga ended her engagement. 

But the House of Gucci star quickly shut down romance rumors following the performance, telling Jimmy Kimmel, “Yes, people saw love and—guess what—that’s what we wanted you to see.”

Cooper, whose romance with Shayk ended later that year, never addressed the speculation until November 2021, telling The Hollywood Reporter they were acting during the Oscar performance.

“They kind of fall in love in that scene in the film,” he explained. “It’s that explosive moment that happens to them on a stage in front of thousands of people…It would have been so weird if we were both on stools facing the audience.”