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

Pop superstar and actor Lady Gaga has addressed the mixed reception to her latest film, Joker: Folie à Deux. Following the film's release, Gaga, who portrays Harley Quinn, largely remained silent, though she released a companion album, Harlequin. In a recent interview with Elle, she finally shared her perspective. Gaga explained that she navigates negative feedback, 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.”

Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to Todd Phillips’ 2019 hit, premiered last October to less-than-stellar reviews from critics and audiences. Currently holding a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, critiques described it as mediocre and failing to 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 termed the film's performance “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 film's reception, Gaga continues to move forward with other projects. She recently announced her new studio album, Mayhem, set for release this March, following a five-year gap since Chromatica. For further perspectives on Joker 2, read about Quentin Tarantino's positive review and Hideo Kojima's belief in its potential for future appreciation. You can also find our list of 2024's biggest disappointments [here].