Stefano Gabbana praises Lady Gaga's Super Bowl body

Fashionista Stefano Gabbana has taken back comments he made about Lady Gaga's appearance during Sunday's Super Bowl halftime performance.

The co-founder of the Dolce & Gabbana fashion house took to Instagram to reveal that while he initially body shamed the Grammy-winner, he now finds her form refreshing.

The designer posted a photo of the singer onstage in Houston, Texas with the caption: "I know it’s strange, but finally something real not retouched! The truth, reality. Yesterday I criticized it too, but I thought about it and I was wrong!!! #real”

Gabbana was one of several Super Bowl viewers who used social media to comment on Gaga's body following her much-talked about hits medley, and all the attention prompted the star to defend herself in an Instagram post.

“I heard my body is a topic of conversation so I wanted to say, I’m proud of my body and you should be proud of yours too,” Gaga wrote. “No matter who you are or what you do. I could give you a million reasons why you don’t need to cater to anyone or anything to succeed.”

She also encouraged self-acceptance, writing, “Be you, and be relentlessly you. That’s the stuff of champions. thank you so much everyone for supporting me. I love you guys.”

In the past, the 30-year-old has addressed criticism surrounding her weight by opening up about her battle with anorexia and bulimia as a teen. In 2012, after her appearance was attacked online, she took to her website, LittleMonsters.com, and posted photos of herself half-naked with the caption: "Bulimia and anorexia since I was 15. But today I join the BODY REVOLUTION. To Inspire Bravery.”