Lady Gaga addresses 'Joker 2' criticism calmly

Music icon and actress Lady Gaga has addressed the mixed reactions to her latest film, Joker: Folie à Deux.

The Grammy-winning superstar remained notably quiet about her involvement in the DC sequel until recently. Gaga reimagined classic villain Harley Quinn with a more subdued performance while further immersing herself in the role through the companion album Harlequin. After months of silence regarding the film's reception, she finally shared her perspective during an interview with Elle, revealing she coped with the criticism by tempering her expectations from the outset.

"Art inherently invites diverse opinions," Gaga reflected. "Some creations simply won't resonate with everyone—that's the reality of artistic expression. True artists persevere even when their work doesn't connect as intended."

The sequel to Todd Phillips' groundbreaking 2019 film premiered last October to lukewarm reception, currently holding a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences. Our 5/10 review criticized its squandered potential as a musical, courtroom drama, and meaningful follow-up to the original. The theatrical run proved so underwhelming that Warner Bros. fast-tracked its digital release, with CEO David Zaslav later acknowledging the film's disappointing performance.

"That fear of failure can become overwhelming when it permeates your creative life," Gaga admitted. "It's simply part of the artistic journey."

While Joker: Folie à Deux failed to meet expectations, Gaga continues forging ahead creatively. The multi-talented artist recently announced her upcoming studio album Mayhem, scheduled for March release—her first full-length project since 2020's Chromatica. For more on the DC sequel, explore Quentin Tarantino's praise and Hideo Kojima's predictions about its legacy, or browse our 2024's biggest cinematic letdowns.