Lady Gaga Literally Defined What A Musical Is While Trying To Explain Why “Joker: Folie À Deux” Decidedly Isn’t One, And People Have So Many Questions

The movie will see Joaquin Phoenix reprise his role as failed comedian Arthur Fleck, aka the Joker, and singer Lady Gaga has joined the cast to play his love interest, Harley Quinn. 

Seemingly taking advantage of Gaga’s singing talent, it has already been confirmed that both Arthur and Harley will sing a variety of already-known songs in Joker: Folie à Deux.

However, during a press conference for the movie at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, Gaga confused people by insisting that, despite the singing and dancing, she wouldn't call this movie a musical. 

One viral reaction to Deadline’s tweet about Gaga’s comments reads: “literally ... the definition of a musical.”

“She has literally defined what a musical is,” somebody else wrote. 

One more asked: “Does no one involved with this movie know what a musical is?”

While another X user joked: “No, I would not describe this as a cheeseburger. *swirls red wine in a glass* this is a cheesy ground beef sandwich.”

Todd told the publication at the time: “Most of the music in the movie is really just dialogue. It’s just Arthur not having the words to say what he wants to say, so he sings them instead.”

He then name-checked the 2021 Lin-Manuel Miranda movie In the Heights, saying: “I just don’t want people to think that it’s like In the Heights, where the lady in the bodega starts to sing and they take it out onto the street, and the police are dancing. No disrespect, because I loved In the Heights.”

“Girl, don’t let Todd Phillips prop you up as his defense because he doesn’t know what a musical is. I know you know,” one more tweeted.

While somebody else wrote: “The mental gymnastics on display when it comes to this movie is insane. They’re going out of their way to tell us it isn’t a musical while describing exactly what a musical is.”