Fans of the Joker franchise were left cringing after an awkward exchange between Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga during a promotional interview for the sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux. The interview, conducted by British broadcaster ITV, took an uncomfortable turn when the stars were asked if they liked the final cut of the film.
The highly anticipated sequel follows the 2019 film Joker, which was lauded for its dark portrayal of the infamous character’s origins. In the original film, Phoenix played Arthur Fleck, a socially alienated clown suffering from a disorder that causes uncontrollable laughter. As he grapples with societal rejection, the story culminates in a dramatic, violent confrontation, which earned Phoenix praise for his chilling performance.
However, the recent interview left fans speculating about the sequel’s quality. When asked their thoughts on the final product, Phoenix and Gaga exchanged a knowing look before bursting into laughter, leading fans to believe there may be trouble behind the scenes. Social media quickly lit up with comments like, “They hated it,” and “They knew it was a mess!”
Fans were quick to draw comparisons to other projects where actors’ responses hinted at underlying dissatisfaction, particularly referencing press tours for the controversial final season of Game of Thrones. One user remarked, “This is giving Emilia Clarke vibes when asked about GoT’s last season.”
Joker: Folie à Deux premiered in the US this October, and early reviews seem to confirm fans’ fears, as the film has received mixed to unfavorable feedback from critics.