Lady Gaga Addresses Criticism of Joker 2: 'Some Things Just Aren't Liked'

Pop music icon and acclaimed actress Lady Gaga has candidly shared her thoughts on the lukewarm reception to her latest cinematic venture, "Joker: Folie à Deux." The Grammy-winning star, who portrayed a nuanced take on the iconic DC villain Harley Quinn, broke her silence in an insightful interview with Elle. Despite the release of a companion album titled "Harlequin," Gaga had remained relatively quiet about the film until now.

In her conversation with Elle, Gaga discussed how she navigates the negative feedback that often accompanies high-profile releases. "People just sometimes don’t like some things," she remarked. "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."

"Joker: Folie à Deux," a sequel to director Todd Phillips' monumental 2019 film, hit theaters last October but failed to meet the expectations set by its predecessor. The film garnered a disappointing 31% on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences. Our review scored it a 5/10, labeling it as a "mediocre" film that squandered its potential across various genres, including as a musical, a courtroom drama, and a sequel lacking meaningful additions to the original "Joker" narrative. The movie's theatrical run was so lackluster that it quickly transitioned to a digital release. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav later expressed his disappointment with the film's performance.

Reflecting on the fear of failure, Gaga stated, "When that makes its way into your life, that can be hard to get control of. It’s part of the mayhem." Despite the setback with "Joker: Folie à Deux," Gaga is looking ahead to new horizons. She announced that her latest studio album, "Mayhem," is slated for release this March, signaling the end of a five-year gap since her last album, "Chromatica."

For those interested in deeper insights into "Joker: Folie à Deux," you can explore why Quentin Tarantino praised the sequel and why Hideo Kojima believes its reception may evolve over time. Additionally, our comprehensive list of the biggest disappointments of 2024 can be found here.