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

Pop music superstar and actor Lady Gaga has recently opened up about the challenging reception to her latest film, *Joker: Folie à Deux*. The Grammy-winning artist, who portrayed a more grounded version of the classic DC comics villain Harley Quinn, had remained largely silent about her involvement in the movie since its release. Gaga not only starred in the film but also deepened her connection to the project with a companion album titled *Harlequin*. After months of silence, she shared her thoughts on the film's reception in a candid conversation with Elle. She explained her approach to handling the negativity, stating that she manages her expectations ahead of time to cope with tough releases.

“People just sometimes don’t like some things,” Gaga 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, premiered last October but received less-than-favorable reviews from both critics and fans. The movie currently holds a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for both audience scores. Our own 5/10 review described it as a “mediocre” film that “wastes its potential as a movie musical, a courtroom drama, and a sequel that has anything meaningful to say about or add to the first Joker.” The film's disappointing performance in theaters led to a swift digital release, with Warner Bros. Discover CEO David Zaslav later calling the film’s performance “disappointing.”

Gaga spoke about the fear of failure, saying, “When that makes its way into your life, that can be hard to get control of. It’s part of the mayhem.” Despite the setbacks with *Joker: Folie à Deux*, Gaga is moving forward with new projects. She recently announced that her latest studio album, *Mayhem*, will be released this March, ending a five-year wait since her last full-length record, *Chromatica*.

For more insights on *Joker: Folie à Deux*, you can explore why Quentin Tarantino says he loved the sequel, and why Hideo Kojima believes the movie’s reception will change over time. Additionally, check out our list of the biggest disappointments of 2024 here.