Joker 2 director reveals reason for cutting Lady Gaga’s controversial same-sex kissing scene
The director of Joker 2, Todd Phillips, has shed light on the decision to remove a scene depicting Lady Gaga kissing a female bystander. Last March, a video captured Lady Gaga, in character as her role Lee Quinzel, filming outside New York City Hall. The clip went viral, showing Gaga kissing a woman amidst a crowd of protesters, with Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker nearby.
However, in the final cut of the movie, the scene was omitted. Phillips explained to Entertainment Weekly that he wanted the moment to be more about music and vibe, hence removing the dialogue that originally accompanied the kiss. He felt the dialogue disrupted the flow of the scene.
Phillips mentioned that Gaga improvised the kiss, adding a spontaneous element to the filming process. In Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to the 2019 film, Arthur Fleck (played by Phoenix) faces prosecution for his crimes and is admitted to Arkham State Hospital, where he encounters Lee, his love interest.
Despite high anticipation for the sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux has faced criticism and disappointing box office results. With a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and modest domestic ticket sales, the film fell short of expectations. The unexpected reception has led to various theories, including one suggesting Phillips deliberately sabotaged the movie due to controversies surrounding the original.
Joker received backlash from critics who accused it of glorifying violence and pandering to incel culture. Phillips defended the film, stating that it sparked important discussions about violence in society. He criticised the polarised reactions, noting how easily extreme views could be adopted by different factions.
Joker: Folie à Deux is currently showing in theatres, inviting audiences to explore the complex narrative and themes within the movie.