Artist

Lady Gaga Reacts to Criticism of ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’

Published January 28, 2025

Joker: Folie À Deux is one of the most talked-about films of 2024, but not for the reasons fans might hope. The movie, featuring Joaquin Phoenix alongside Lady Gaga, has faced significant criticism both at the box office and from critics. Despite the backlash, Gaga appears unaffected by the negative reception.

In a recent cover story with Elle published on January 28, Gaga addressed the mixed reviews. Her response was straightforward: "People just sometimes don’t like some things. 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." This reflects her mature outlook on the unpredictable nature of art and audience reception.

Gaga also shared her thoughts on the pressure of failure in the creative world, stating, "When that makes its way into your life, that can be hard to get control of. It’s part of the mayhem." Her comments reveal a deeper understanding of the challenges artists face as they navigate their careers.

In addition to talking about Joker: Folie À Deux, Gaga discussed her upcoming music project, Mayhem. She described the album's sound as a blend of various influences, including '90s alternative music, electro-grunge, and melodies reminiscent of Prince and David Bowie. Gaga enthusiastically noted, "Mayhem is utter chaos! It breaks a lot of rules and has a lot of fun." This highlights her intention to push boundaries in her music.

Gaga elaborated on her creative process, saying, "As I’m writing, it assembles in my brain, then through the recording, it becomes a full piece of color. Every song is a different shade." She likened the mood of many tracks on the album to warm colors, stating, "A lot of the songs on this album have a maroon, brown color to them. ‘Bad Romance’ was like that — it was reddish." Through these descriptions, Gaga paints a vivid picture of her artistic vision.

For those interested in more about Gaga's insights and her new music, check out the full feature.

Gaga, Joker, Criticism