Ridiculed performance — director admitted getting upset (7)
I believe the answer is:
derided
'ridiculed' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'performance director admitted getting upset' is the wordplay.
'performance' becomes 'deed' (I've seen this in other clues).
'director' becomes 'dir'.
'admitted' is an insertion indicator.
'getting upset' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'deed' going around 'dir' is 'dedired'.
'dedired' reversed gives 'DERIDED'.
(Other definitions for derided that I've seen before include "Scorned" , "Made fun of" , "Mocked, laughed at" , "Ridiculed" , "Did rubbish" .)