Lady Gaga breaks exclusive deal with Target

Lady Gaga is saying bye-bye to Target.

The flamboyant pop star has scrapped her deal with the Minneapolis-based retail giant to carry the deluxe edition of her next release, "Born This Way," according to the Advocate, a leading national publication that covers gay and lesbian issues.

The rift stems from Target's corporate donations to the MN Forward political action committee. That PAC supported the 2010 gubernatorial candidacy of Tom Emmer, whom gay and lesbian advocates viewed as unsympathetic to their causes.

Even so, visitors Wednesday afternoon to Target.com could still order the deluxe edition, which includes the standard tracks along with three new songs and five remixes.

The title cut single has been released and quickly became a gay rights anthem of sorts. The full album in all forms is scheduled to debut in late May.

"The Target/Lady Gaga deal was dissolved last week," according to an e-mail Tuesday evening from Carmen Cacciatore, President of FlyLife Inc., who handles publicity for the singer.

"We were very surprised and disappointed by the statements made by Lady Gaga's organization related to her partnership with Target," the retailer said in a statement late Wednesday. "Target remains committed to the LGBT community as demonstrated by our contributions to various LGBT organizations, our recently established policy committee to review our political giving and our respectful, inclusive workplace environment."

In the meeting, music publication Billboard magazine reported, she demanded that Target make up for its support of candidates perceived as anti- gay. She told Billboard the meeting was "one of the most intense conversations I've ever had in a business meeting."

"Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] charity groups and begin to reform and make amends for the mistakes they've made in the past," Gaga was quoted as saying. "Our relationship is hinged upon their reform."