Lady Gaga on 'Joker 2' Backlash: From Laughter to Enduring Pain

Lady Gaga, who starred as Harley Quinn in 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' reveals her surprising initial reaction to the film's harsh criticism and the emotional toll it eventually took.

TL;DR

• Lady Gaga initially "started laughing" at the "unhinged" negativity surrounding 'Joker: Folie à Deux.'
• The prolonged backlash eventually became "painful" for Gaga, who poured a lot of herself into the Harley Quinn role.
• The musical sequel garnered a dismal 31% on Rotten Tomatoes and made only $207 million globally, a stark contrast to the first 'Joker's' billion-dollar success.

Imagine pouring your creative soul into a big project, one that follows a massive, Oscar-winning hit. You take on an iconic character, embrace a bold new direction for the story, only for the world to largely declare it a misfire, a "megaflop," and even hand it a few Golden Raspberry anti-awards. That's the commercial and critical reality 'Joker: Folie à Deux' faced, a staggering departure from its predecessor.

Lady Gaga, who stepped into the complex shoes of Harleen 'Lee' Quinzel – a fresh take on the infamous Harley Quinn – for this highly anticipated musical sequel, recently opened up about this overwhelming reception. Her initial reaction to the "unhinged" criticism might just be the most 'Joker' moment of all.

Lady Gaga's Surprising Initial Reaction to the Unhinged Film Criticism

When the first wave of harsh reviews and audience disappointment hit 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' you might expect an artist to feel immediate disappointment or anger. But for Lady Gaga, the initial response was quite different. She found herself laughing.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Gaga reflected on the saga, stating, "I wasn't, like, unfazed." She continued, "It's funny, I'm almost nervous to share my reaction. But the truth is, when it first started happening, I started laughing. Because it was just getting so unhinged." Source: [Rolling Stone, "Lady Gaga is reacting to the negative reviews around Joker: Folie à Deux," November 14, 2025]

"When it first started happening, I started laughing. Because it was just getting so unhinged."

— Lady Gaga, on the initial backlash to 'Joker: Folie à Deux' (Rolling Stone)

This almost Harley Quinn-esque response to chaos speaks volumes about the intensity of the reaction the film provoked. However, as the negativity persisted and didn't quickly "dissipate," the initial amusement gave way to something more profound and painful. Gaga admitted that the experience became "a little bit more painful. Only because I put a lot of myself into it." Source: [Rolling Stone, "Lady Gaga Admits She Laughed at 'Unhinged' Criticism of 'Joker: Folie a Deux'," November 16, 2025]

Dissecting the Critical and Commercial Disappointment of the Sequel

Let's be blunt: 'Joker: Folie à Deux' didn't just underperform; it significantly struggled on both critical and commercial fronts. The 2024 musical sequel, co-starring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, concluded its theatrical run with a global box office tally of just over $207 million. This figure pales in comparison to the original 'Joker,' which soared past the billion-dollar mark. Considering 'Folie à Deux' had a reported production budget of around $200 million, its financial performance was undeniably a tough pill to swallow.

The critical consensus was equally grim. The film managed a dismal 31% "freshness" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a score reflected across both critic and general audience reviews. Source: [Pravilamag, "Lady Gaga reacts to criticism of "Joker 2" for the first time," November 15, 2025] The anti-awards circuit also took notice, with 'Joker: Folie à Deux' earning "Razzies for Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel and Worst Screen Combo for Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker." Source: [Deadline, "Lady Gaga Breaks Silence On ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Negative Reviews," November 14, 2025] This collective dismissal was a far cry from the original's Oscar-winning glory.

The Stark Tonal Shift and Artistic Rebellion Behind 'Joker 2'

The original 'Joker,' released in 2019, was celebrated for its gritty, severe, Martin Scorsese-esque tone, offering a dark and grounded origin story for the iconic Batman villain. It resonated deeply, earning 11 Academy Award nominations and winning Best Actor for Phoenix and Best Original Score for Hildur Guðnadóttir's haunting music.

However, director Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the sequel with Scott Silver, clearly had a different vision for the follow-up. 'Folie à Deux' pivoted dramatically, becoming a dark musical filled with grand spectacles and upbeat set-pieces, largely minimizing the original's gloomy strings. The sequel's narrative often takes place within Arkham Asylum or a courtroom, punctuated by fantasy sequences where Arthur and Harley express their emotions through song and dance.

This drastic tonal shift from a grim character study to a psychological musical arguably alienated many fans who were drawn to the original's raw violence and anarchic spirit. Some critics and viewers even perceived 'Folie à Deux' as a "pointed rebuke" to those who might have glorified the first film's chaotic anti-hero. Dialogue within the movie, for example, reportedly portrays the Joker as "weak and pathetic," seemingly challenging any romanticized notions of the character. Source: [MovieWeb, "How Lady Gaga Feels About Joker 2's Overwhelmingly Negative Reception," November 13, 2025]

Turning Disappointment into Artistic Drive and New Music

Despite the pain of the movie's reception, Lady Gaga's commitment to her craft remained evident. She described feeling "artistically rebellious" when she accepted the role, partly spurred by "a ton of negativity around Joker" before the first film's release. Source: [Rolling Stone, "Lady Gaga is reacting to the negative reviews around Joker: Folie à Deux," November 14, 2025] This drive to push boundaries, however, doesn't always guarantee a smooth landing, especially in the unpredictable world of film sequels.

Gaga didn't let the challenging experience go to waste. She channeled that raw energy and emotion into her music, specifically into her 2024 single "Disease" and its accompanying music video. She explained, "I put so much of that energy into that video. [...] I was in that place, you know, I was like, 'I'll show you who I am, and I'll show you what this fight is like.'" Source: [io9, "Lady Gaga Reveals Her Reaction to All the ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Hate," November 14, 2025]

The video for "Disease" itself is reportedly very intense, beginning with Gaga lying on the hood of a car, and featuring versions of herself battling her own dark alter-ego. This demonstrates how deeply artists can internalize the fate of their work and how personal struggles can fuel future creative endeavors. Her ability to transform disappointment into a new artistic expression showcases resilience.

Examining Counterpoints: Individual Brilliance vs. Collective Outcome

"But wait," you might wonder, "wasn't Lady Gaga's performance itself a bright spot?" Indeed, many reviews, even those highly critical of the film as a whole, often singled out her portrayal of Lee Quinzel as one of its saving graces. She brought "incredible energy" to the musical performances and was widely seen as complementing Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur Fleck well. Source: [Rolling Stone, "Lady Gaga is reacting to the negative reviews around Joker: Folie à Deux," November 14, 2025] This highlights a common tradeoff in collaborative art: an individual's brilliance can stand out, yet still be part of a collectively disappointing project.

However, even an acclaimed individual performance can't always carry an entire movie, especially when the overall creative vision fails to resonate. Pouring "a lot of myself into it" only to witness the entire project receive widespread scorn can still be a tough emotional blow, regardless of personal praise. The ultimate collective outcome often overshadows individual successes in the public eye, impacting the artist's experience.

Another perspective might suggest, "Perhaps Todd Phillips intended for the film to be divisive, a deliberate artistic statement against the glorification of the Joker." It's true that the movie's narrative seemed to critique elements that made the first 'Joker' so popular, portraying its protagonist in a less heroic light. Source: [MovieWeb, "How Lady Gaga Feels About Joker 2's Overwhelmingly Negative Reception," November 13, 2025] This could be seen as an artist using their platform to challenge audience expectations and past interpretations.

While artistic intention can be profound, in the high-stakes commercial world of Hollywood, a "subversive sequel no one was buying" often results in a significant flop. A $200 million budget for a film that barely recoups its cost and earns a 31% Rotten Tomatoes score suggests that even if there was a deeper, thought-provoking message, it didn't connect widely enough to be understood or appreciated by its target audience. This creates a significant commercial and critical disconnect, regardless of underlying artistic goals.

A Real-World Scenario of Creative Disappointment

Example: Imagine an indie game developer, renowned for their gritty, emotionally heavy first game, decides their sequel should be an upbeat, quirky musical adventure, completely different in tone and style. They pour years of their life, all their savings, and immense personal passion into this new vision, convinced it's an artistic evolution. When the game launches, however, the original fanbase is confused and alienated, critics pan the shift, and sales are abysmal. Despite the developer's sincere artistic intent and the individual charm of certain game elements, the overwhelming public rejection of their deeply personal creation leaves them heartbroken, even if a few niche fans appreciate the boldness. That feeling of deeply personal work being rejected can be crushing, mirroring the experience of high-profile artists.

Lady Gaga's journey with 'Joker: Folie à Deux' ultimately reinforces a universal truth about creative endeavors: as she put it, "People just sometimes don't like some things. It's that simple." She added, "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." Source: [People, "Lady Gaga Shares How She Really Felt About the 'Unhinged' Criticism for 'Joker: Folie à Deux'," November 13, 2025] This perspective offers a valuable lesson in resilience and the ongoing pursuit of artistic expression, even in the face of widespread disapproval.

Frequently Asked Questions About 'Joker: Folie à Deux' When was 'Joker: Folie à Deux' released? The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2024 and was released in theaters on October 4, 2024. Source: [MovieWeb, "How Lady Gaga Feels About Joker 2's Overwhelmingly Negative Reception," November 13, 2025] What is the runtime of 'Joker: Folie à Deux'? The movie runs for 138 minutes, or 2 hours and 18 minutes. Source: [MovieWeb, "How Lady Gaga Feels About Joker 2's Overwhelmingly Negative Reception," November 13, 2025] What is the critical rating for 'Joker: Folie à Deux'? It received a 31% "freshness" rating on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and general audiences. Source: [Pravilamag, "Lady Gaga reacts to criticism of "Joker 2" for the first time," November 15, 2025] Will Lady Gaga return as Harley Quinn in future projects? The current status of her role in future DC projects is not specified in the provided articles, but she is set to return to the big screen next year for 'The Devil Wears Prada 2.' Sources

• Rolling Stone, "Lady Gaga is reacting to the negative reviews around Joker: Folie à Deux," November 14, 2025.
• Rolling Stone, "Lady Gaga Admits She Laughed at 'Unhinged' Criticism of 'Joker: Folie a Deux'," November 16, 2025.
• Deadline, "Lady Gaga Breaks Silence On ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Negative Reviews," November 14, 2025.
• MovieWeb, "How Lady Gaga Feels About Joker 2's Overwhelmingly Negative Reception," November 13, 2025.
• Pravilamag, "Lady Gaga reacts to criticism of "Joker 2" for the first time," November 15, 2025.
• io9, "Lady Gaga Reveals Her Reaction to All the ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Hate," November 14, 2025.
• People, "Lady Gaga Shares How She Really Felt About the 'Unhinged' Criticism for 'Joker: Folie à Deux'," November 13, 2025.

Key Takeaways from the 'Joker 2' Reception

• Artistic ambition, especially when radically altering a beloved franchise's tone, carries significant commercial and critical risks.
• Audience expectations, heavily influenced by successful predecessors, can be a formidable force, difficult to redirect.
• Even highly acclaimed individual performances can't always salvage a project when its overall vision fails to connect.
• True artists often find ways to channel the pain of rejection into new, deeply personal creative work.
• Resilience and an acceptance that not all work will resonate are crucial for sustained artistic careers.