Lady Gaga on the Negativity Surrounding Joker 2: 'People Just Sometimes Don't Like Some Things'

Pop superstar and actor Lady Gaga has opened up about the mixed reception to her recent film, Joker: Folie à Deux. Since the film's release, Gaga, who portrayed a grounded version of Harley Quinn, has largely remained silent on the matter. Her involvement extended beyond acting, with a companion album, Harlequin, further cementing her connection to the project. However, in a recent conversation with Elle, Gaga finally shared her perspective on the film's less-than-stellar reception. She revealed that she navigated the negativity, as she does with any challenging release, by managing her expectations beforehand.

"People just sometimes don’t like some things," Gaga stated. "It’s that simple. And I think to be an artist, you have to be willing for people to sometimes not like it. And you keep going even if something didn’t connect in the way that you intended.”

Following director Todd Phillips' highly successful 2019 film, Joker: Folie à Deux premiered last October to mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Currently holding a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, both critically and among audiences, the film's reception has been described as "mediocre," failing to fully capitalize on its potential as a musical, courtroom drama, or meaningful sequel. Its theatrical run was short-lived, leading to a swift digital release. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav later described the film's performance as "disappointing."

Gaga acknowledged the challenges of facing such feedback, stating, “When that makes its way into your life, that can be hard to get control of. It’s part of the mayhem.”

Despite the less-than-enthusiastic response to Joker: Folie à Deux, Gaga continues to move forward with other projects. She recently announced the release of her new studio album, Mayhem, this March, marking the end of a five-year wait since her last full-length release, Chromatica. For further perspectives on Joker 2, you can explore why Quentin Tarantino praised the sequel and why Hideo Kojima believes its reception will evolve over time. You can also find our list of 2024's biggest disappointments [here].