Lady Gaga Reflects on ‘Painful’ Backlash to Joker: Folie à Deux

In a recent Rolling Stone cover story, Lady Gaga opened up about the critical and audience response to Joker: Folie à Deux, the 2024 sequel to the Oscar-winning Joker. The performer, who starred as Harley Quinn, admitted the widespread negativity surrounding the film became “painful” despite her initially rebellious reaction to the backlash.

Gaga’s Candid Reaction to the Film’s Reception

Reflecting on the period following the movie’s release, Gaga shared that her initial response to the criticism was one of laughter, describing the reaction as “so unhinged.” However, she noted that as the negative discourse persisted, it became more difficult to handle. “When it takes a while for something to kind of dissipate, that can be a little bit more painful,” she told Rolling Stone, adding, “I put a lot of myself into it.”

Joker 2’s Critical and Awards Journey

Joker: Folie à Deux premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2024 to a prolonged standing ovation. Despite this early festival praise, the theatrical release in October 2024 was met with a starkly different reception from both audiences and critics. The film currently holds a 31% rating on review aggregation sites, mirroring its audience score. In a sharp contrast to the first film’s 11 Oscar nominations, the sequel received no Academy Award recognition but garnered several Razzie nominations.

The Road to What’s After the Movie

If you’re interested in more industry news, reviews, and analysis of films like Joker: Folie à Deux, be sure to check out What’s After the Movie for comprehensive coverage. You can also explore our blog for the latest entertainment news and awards season updates.