Pop music icon and actress Lady Gaga recently broke her silence on the critical and fan backlash to her latest film, *Joker: Folie à Deux*. In the movie, Gaga took on the role of a more grounded version of the iconic DC comics character, Harley Quinn, and even expanded her involvement with a companion album titled *Harlequin*. Despite the film's release last October, Gaga had remained relatively quiet about her thoughts on its reception until now.

In a candid conversation with Elle, Gaga shared her perspective on dealing with the negative feedback. She emphasized the importance of managing expectations and accepting that not every project will be universally loved. "People just sometimes don’t like some things," Gaga 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."

*Joker: Folie à Deux*, the sequel to director Todd Phillips' highly successful 2019 film, faced a tough audience. It received a disappointing 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and fans. Our own review scored it a 5/10, describing it as a "mediocre" movie that failed to capitalize on its potential as a musical, courtroom drama, and sequel. The film's theatrical run was so lackluster that it quickly transitioned to a digital release. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav labeled the film's performance as "disappointing."

Reflecting on the fear of failure, Gaga admitted, "When that makes its way into your life, that can be hard to get control of. It’s part of the mayhem." Despite the setback, she is moving forward with her career, announcing her latest studio album, *Mayhem*, set for release this March. This marks the end of a five-year gap since her last album, *Chromatica*.

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