Lady Gaga took the stage as both host and musical guest on the March 8, 2025 episode of Saturday Night Live, captivating audiences with her signature wit and humor, especially surrounding her recent project, Joker: Folie à Deux. This self-reflective monologue marked Gaga's return to SNL for the first time since 2013, and she made sure to use the moment to poke fun at the infamous sequel to the 2019 hit film Joker.
The pop superstar, now 38, opened her monologue with playful jabs at herself and her acting career, saying, "Anyway, I’m an actor now. I’ve been very diligent about selecting films to showcase my craft as a serious actor. Films such as Joker 2... apparently, people thought it was awesome." Despite her comedic take, the film's performance at the box office was anything but awesome, bringing in only $206 million globally against its $200 million budget, leaving it teetering on the edge of financial failure.
Gaga humorously addressed her award nomination alongside co-star Joaquin Phoenix, noting, "Joaquin and I even got nominated for a Razzie, which is an award for the worst films of the year. So we won for Worst On-Screen Duo." The Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly known as Razzies, awarded Joker 2 with multiple nominations, including Worst Sequel and Worst Screen Combo. "But joke's on them; I love winning things! My Razzie brings me one step closer to an EGORT. It’s like an EGOT, but it’s hurtful," she quipped.
Earlier this year, Gaga weighed in on the film's lackluster reception, stating, "People just sometimes don’t like some things. It’s simple. And I think to be an artist, you have to be willing for people to sometimes not like it. You keep going even if something didn’t connect the way you intended." This candidness contributed to her charm and relatability on stage, reminding viewers of the risks inherent to creativity.
Joker: Folie à Deux is directed by Todd Phillips, who collaborated on the script with Scott Silver. The film chronicles the story of Arthur Fleck, played by Phoenix, who goes on trial for his previous crimes, with Gaga portraying his love interest, Harley Quinn. Despite the anticipation surrounding the sequel, it fell short of expectations, receiving only 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, as critics largely panned its narrative execution.
During her SNL appearance, Gaga also noted her excitement about her new album, Mayhem, joking with the audience, "I know you might be thinking I’m here to promote my album, but I’m actually here to remind you I’m an amazing actor." Referencing the same monologue, she reflected on her age and the challenges of growing older within the music industry, humorously stating, "I see most pop stars are over 40. Chappell Roan is 58. Charli XCX? She’s 75!" This lighthearted touch showcased her ability to blend humor with authenticity.
Gaga's performance on SNL was not limited to her monologue. She electrified the audience with live renditions of her new singles, "Abracadabra" and "Killah," off her recently released album, Mayhem. The performance demonstrated her versatility and commitment to entertaining her fans.
She even took the opportunity to allude to her previous controversial collaboration with R. Kelly from 2013, saying, "There’s no need to Google 'SNL 2013 Lady Gaga featuring R. Kelly.' I won’t bring it up because it would be bad." This reference hinted at how much has changed since her last SNL appearance, particularly the deterioration of Kelly's reputation following his conviction for sexual crimes. Gaga's handling of her past collaborations exemplified her ability to move forward and learn from previous decisions.
Not lost on the audience was the clear dichotomy between Gaga’s successes and the height of negativity directed toward Joker: Folie à Deux. Critics like actor and comedian Tim Dillon have publicly derided the film, calling it "the worst film ever made," highlighting the uphill battle Gaga faces as she strives to be taken seriously as both a musician and actress.
Despite the challenges presented by Joker's poor reception, Gaga’s humorous approach on SNL served as a reminder of the resilience of artists. By not shying away from her film's shortcomings, Gaga reinforced the importance of finding humor amid criticism. After all, true artistry often requires one to embrace failures and move forward, and Gaga emphasized this theme of perseverance with her closing remarks: "So tonight, I promise to act, to sing, and to not do Joker 3."