Lady Gaga is not obligated to pay a $500,000 reward to Jennifer McBride, who returned the singer's stolen dogs in 2021, as ruled by a US judge. Jennifer McBride had filed a lawsuit against Lady Gaga, seeking the reward and an additional $1.5 million in damages. However, the judge stated that McBride was not entitled to the reward because her involvement in returning the dogs had led to a conviction for receiving stolen goods.

 

The incident in question occurred when Lady Gaga's three French bulldogs were stolen in Hollywood in February 2021, and the dog walker, Ryan Fischer, was shot. James Howard Jackson, one of the culprits, was later sentenced to 21 years in prison for attempted murder. Two of the stolen dogs were returned unharmed by McBride, and she subsequently sought the reward.

 

McBride was arrested in April 2021 and charged with being an accessory to attempted murder. In December, she entered a plea deal, and the charge was dropped in exchange for a plea of no contest to receiving stolen property, resulting in a two-year probation sentence. McBride claimed that she took possession of Lady Gaga's dogs to ensure their safety and return.

 

The judge upheld the previous ruling, emphasizing that McBride could not claim the reward due to her involvement in the theft and subsequent conviction, stating that she had "unclean hands" preventing her from benefiting from her actions.