Pop superstar and actor Lady Gaga has addressed the mixed reception to her latest film, Joker: Folie à Deux. Since the film's release, Gaga, who portrays Harley Quinn, has remained relatively quiet, though she released a companion album, Harlequin. In a recent interview with Elle, she shared her perspective on the film's less-than-stellar reviews. Gaga explained that she navigates negative feedback by managing her expectations beforehand. "People just sometimes don’t like some things," she 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.”
AnswerSee ResultsJoker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to Todd Phillips' 2019 hit, premiered last October to a mixed reception from critics and audiences. It currently holds a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with some reviews criticizing its failure to capitalize on its potential as a musical, courtroom drama, and meaningful sequel. The film's theatrical run was short-lived, leading to a swift digital release and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav describing its performance as "disappointing."
Gaga acknowledged the challenges of facing 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 Joker: Folie à Deux's less-than-expected success, Gaga is moving forward with other projects. She recently announced her new studio album, Mayhem, set for release this March, ending a five-year gap since her last album, Chromatica. For further perspectives on Joker 2, you can read about Quentin Tarantino's positive review and Hideo Kojima's belief that the film's reception will improve over time. You can also find our list of 2024's biggest disappointments [here].
