More than a year after the release of Joker: Folie à Deux, Lady Gaga is opening up about her response to the film’s harsh criticism and disappointing box office results.

Speaking with Rolling Stone for a cover story published November 13, 2025, the 39-year-old singer and actress described the backlash as “so unhinged” that her initial reaction was laughter.

“I wasn’t, like, unfazed. It’s funny, I’m almost nervous to share my reaction. But the truth is, when it first started happening, I started laughing,” Gaga said.

Mixed Reception for the Joker Sequel

The sequel to 2019’s Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, faced a stark contrast to the original. While Phoenix earned his first Academy Award for the first film, Folie à Deux received a D CinemaScore and struggled at the box office.

Gaga explained that the negative reviews were tough in part because she invested so much of herself into the project.

“When it takes a while for something to kind of dissipate, that can be a little bit more painful. Only because I put a lot of myself into it,” she added.

The sequel follows Arthur Fleck’s (Phoenix) murder trial, including several musical sequences that unfold during the trial, culminating in Arthur’s brief escape and eventual return to Arkham State Hospital.

Artistic Rebellion and Personal Reflection

Gaga said she felt “artistically rebellious” during filming and emphasized that as an artist, she has to accept that not every work will resonate with audiences.

“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,” she told Elle earlier in January.

After the film’s release, Gaga channeled her emotions into a music video for her song Disease. She admitted the project pushed her into a dark mental space, reflecting on personal growth and healing.

“For weeks I was really bothered. It was in my head a lot. I was actually trying to figure out what I was trying to say. There’s a side of me that’s scared of another side. And I think that there was a sense in me that I was not done healing,” she said.

Joker: Folie à Deux is currently streaming on HBO Max.