Lady Gaga: The Bigger the Star, The Bigger the Target

Lady Gaga wears a pair of rainbow sunglasses while leaving her hotel on Thursday afternoon (August 22) in New York City.

The 27-year-old singer is currently in the Big Apple prepping for her big performance of her song “Applause” opening the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards this weekend. It will be her first live performance of the song!

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Lady Gaga

Gaga took to her Twitter account this afternoon to post a Michael Jackson quote that echoes how she has been treated lately. “The bigger the star, the bigger the target,” she tweeted.

20+ pictures inside of Lady Gaga leaving her hotel…