Lady Gaga has issued a long statement encouraging fans not to spread online hate.

The US star is currently embroiled in some bad blood with celebrity blogger Perez Hilton after a fan spotted him in the singer's apartment block.

Gaga later called Hilton "sick", before the blogger - amid friction between the pair - said that he was innnocently viewing a flat.

However, some fans of the 'Applause' star have slagged off Hilton online and sent him death threats - something that Gaga isn't keen on. She said:

"While it may be difficult at times to hear the things that people say and write about me, or the nature of the industry that builds us up to tear us down, I feel the need to address you all here on behalf of the Born This Way Foundation. Sending threats of any kind, using hateful or abusive language, and the provoking of others on the internet is not supported by me or anything that I stand for. What I’ve seen transpiring is wrong and upsetting to me, and I’ve made it very clear how I feel about equality and compassion.

"I know how angry you feel sometimes, and I know that when they say things about me you feel that they are saying them about you as well. But music is about love, and is about sharing in the magic of theater. Although pop culture and society have become more negative and critical of the artist over the years, by engaging in this negativity you are allowing it to spread."

The 'ARTPOP' lady added: "I ask you to take a pledge with me to continue the change toward positivity, and to recognize that this behavior is wrong. We are stronger than this. We know what we stand for, and what we stand for is bravery. I know this because what I see on the internet is not what I see at my shows. People deal with their insecurities in many different ways. The anonymous nature of social media has made it easy for many to vent their anger by bullying others with no recourse or accountability. But this is not a healthy way to handle your emotions."