A viral lip-reading of a conversation between Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga during the standing ovation for Joker: Folie à Deux at Cannes has been circulating on social media, fueling speculation that the two stars might not be happy with the film.
‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Flops
It’s no secret that Joker: Folie à Deux has not lived up to expectations. Whether it’s due to competition from films like The Substance or external factors like natural disasters, the sequel to The Joker has faced harsh criticism.
Now, it seems even Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix may share the audience’s disappointment.
Recently on X (formerly Twitter), an alleged lip-reading video from the Cannes screening went viral. In the clip, it’s speculated that Lady Gaga attempts to comfort Phoenix, who allegedly expresses that he’s unhappy with how the film turned out.
If in fact this was the real conversation then I do feel really bad for Joaquin and Gaga. She tried to cheer him up but both know what Todd did.pic.twitter.com/83IkC4rLzJ
— ᖶᕼᘿ ᑢᕼᖇᓍᘻᗩᖶᓰᑢᗩᘉᓍ feat. The Monkey Gang (@Chromaticano2) October 7, 2024
Joaquin Phoenix Walks Out During Standing Ovation
Adding to the rumors, Phoenix walked out of the screening during the 11-minute standing ovation, leaving the audience confused. In contrast, Lady Gaga stayed, blowing kisses and thanking the crowd for one of the longest ovations at the festival.
Joaquin Phoenix left the #Joker2 Venice premiere a few minutes before the 11-minute standing ovation ended. pic.twitter.com/H2mvtNqUoF
— Variety (@Variety) September 4, 2024
Many believe Phoenix’s sudden exit was due to dissatisfaction with director Todd Phillips and the direction the film took.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie is now expected to earn less than $50 million domestically during its opening weekend—a significant drop from earlier projections of around $70 million.
The reception hasn’t been favorable, either. On Rotten Tomatoes, Joker: Folie à Deux currently holds an audience score of 31% and a critic score of 32%.
In a recent interview, both Phoenix and Gaga seemed uncomfortable when asked about the movie and quickly sidestepped the question, adding fuel to the speculation.
Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix’s reaction when asked if they enjoyed the final cut for Joker: Folie à Deux 😬pic.twitter.com/784Z5XlH0T
— Gaga Notify (@gaganotify) October 3, 2024
But as the film struggles at the box office and receives mixed reactions, it’s becoming clear that Joker: Folie à Deux may not reach the heights of its predecessor…
