Lady Gaga Responds to Joker 2 Backlash: 'Some Things Just Aren't Liked'

Pop music icon and actress Lady Gaga has recently shared her thoughts on the critical reception of her latest film, Joker: Folie à Deux. In the movie, Gaga took on the role of a more grounded version of the iconic DC villain Harley Quinn and also released a companion album titled Harlequin. Despite the film's release last October, Gaga had remained silent on the topic until now, opening up in an interview with Elle.

Gaga discussed how she copes with negative feedback, emphasizing the importance of managing expectations. "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' highly successful 2019 film, received mixed reviews upon its release. It currently holds a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences. Our own review scored it a 5/10, describing it as a "mediocre" film that failed to capitalize on its potential as a movie musical, courtroom drama, and a sequel that adds little to the original Joker. The film's disappointing box office performance led to an early digital release, with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav labeling its performance as "disappointing."

Gaga acknowledged the emotional toll of such criticism, 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 setback with Joker: Folie à Deux, Gaga is looking ahead. She announced that her new studio album, Mayhem, will be released this March, ending a five-year hiatus since her last album, Chromatica.

For further insights into Joker: Folie à Deux, you can explore why Quentin Tarantino praised the sequel and why Hideo Kojima believes its reception may improve over time. Additionally, check out our list of the biggest disappointments of 2024 here.