Lady Gaga's Viral Same-Sex Kiss Scene Cut from Joker 2

In the United States, the director of Joker: Folie à Deux, Todd Phillips, has revealed the decision to cut a scene featuring Lady Gaga kissing a female extra during filming in March. The scene, which went viral, showed Gaga's character, Lee Quinzel, kissing a woman amidst a group of protesters outside a courthouse. However, in the final cut, this moment was replaced with a musical performance. Phillips explained that the original scene included dialogue that detracted from the intended musical vibe. He noted that Gaga improvised the kiss, which added spontaneity to the moment. Despite high expectations for the sequel, the film has received poor reviews, currently holding a 33 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earning only $40 million in its opening weekend. This disappointing reception has led to various theories about its failure, including speculation that Phillips may have intentionally undermined the film due to past controversies surrounding the original Joker. The first film faced backlash for its portrayal of violence and its sympathetic depiction of a troubled character, prompting discussions about societal issues. Phillips has previously defended the film's themes, suggesting that discussions about violence are necessary and that outrage has become a commodity in contemporary discourse.