Lady Gaga has told fans that she has her "spirit" back and feels "free" after removing negative influences from her life.

In a frank letter posted on the singer's social networking website Little Monsters yesterday (August 14), Gaga admitted that the past year has been difficult, both in her career and in her personal life.

The pop icon wrote that she feels people in the music business were her holding back, and added that she struggled with friends betraying her. The flamboyant singer said:

"Today is a really happy day for me. The past year was a challenge, and I'm so happy to have my spirit back. I felt in chains at times. Whether is be the record label disagreeing with me on single choices, or directors who could only create an idea of "gaga" or what i've "done before" and not able to move forward, and there was also of course the incessant dragging of the most important single of my career in dead-beaten-horse-mud. Then there were all the personal moments. Betrayed by lifelong friends, mentors I've had for years suddenly taking advantage of me, and a massive struggles with my body image."

She continued: "I've grown and left most of these things behind, the monsters of fame are very real. But I wanted to thank you for baring with me a little bit. Today's film [advert for perfume Fame] is what happens when there is love and respect amongst creatives, teams, management. This project was run solely by the HAUS OF GAGA, ATOM FACTORY, AND STEVEN KLEIN'S fantastic team. I am feeling blessed to have removed those from my life driven by money and luxury, it's all about the art of it. I feel free today."

As reported by Pressparty previously, Gaga professionally split from her friend and Creative Director, Lauriaenn Gibson, last year.