Ultimately, Gaga dropped out of the program to pursue her own musical career, a choice that Waddell—who also chose not to finish her studies at Tisch—applauds in hindsight.
“I don’t know what she did, but she’s a genius,” she told host Jason Tartick. “I wasn’t a fan of her at that moment, but I was not my best at that moment either. We both dropped out of the program because we didn’t love the program, and I’m sure she was just as unhappy in it as I was or she would have stayed.”
Waddell has since found her way into the music industry as well. These days, the Bachelor in Paradise winner—who shares kids Isabella “Bella” Evelyn, 5, and Charles “Charlie” Wolfe, 3, with ex Evan Bass—is pursuing a career as a pop-country singer.
“This is not the ideal time to put music out, but I think the ideal time for me is now,” she shared. “I like telling people you can do it whenever.”
E! News has reached out to Gaga’s rep for comment but hasn’t heard back.