8 times Katy Perry courted controversy: From legal battle with nuns to harming the environment
8 times Katy Perry landed in controversy: From satirical messaging in 'Woman's World' to Britney Spears jab
Pop singer Katy Perry has been under criticism lately after the release of her new single 'Lifetimes'. The Balearic Government Department of the Environment is investigating how the music video was filmed on a small, protected island without the necessary permissions. However, this is not the first time the pop icon has been mired in controversy. Let us take a look at times when Katy Perry courted controversy.
1. Controversy over 'Lifetimes' music video
Katy Perry's new single 'Lifetimes' is in trouble. The Environment Department of the Balearic Islands issued a press release on Tuesday, August 13. They claimed that the video’s production company did not take proper authorization before shooting the music video on the protected dunes of S’Espalmador in Ibiza, Spain. According to the press announcement, the Environment Department is now looking into the possibility that environmental harm to the beach was made during the music video shooting.
2. Katy Perry defends 'Woman's World' as a 'satire'
In July 2024, Perry defended one of her songs 'Woman's World' from her album '143'. 'Woman's World' has faced backlash from fans and critics alike. Many claimed the song's video objectified women while the lyrics talked about female empowerment and many expressed disappointment over the singer's collaboration with Dr Luke who had been accused of assault by singer Kesha. She was called out for false messaging. However, Perry has addressed the criticism surrounding her 'Woman's World' music video, claiming that the song's outdated feminist tone was intentional and it was meant to be a satire.
3. Katy Perry takes jibes at Britney Spears
Perry has been called out for making fun of Britney Spears’ mental health struggles. During the Grammys red carpet in 2017, Perry said that she hasn’t shaved her head because she’s saving it for "a public breakdown". She repeated the joke with Ryan Seacrest on the same night. She was seemingly referring to Britney shaving her head back in 2007.
4. Katy Perry's unsavory remarks on 'American Idol' contestant
'American Idol' contestant Sara Beth Liebe told the judging panel during an episode of auditions in 2023 that she had three children. To this, Katy Perry reacted by grabbing the table and leaning back on it. Liebe said jokingly, "If Katy lays on the table I’m going to pass out" to which Perry replied, "Honey you’ve been laying on the table too much." She faced a lot of criticism for this comment. Sara later said it was "embarrassing" to have that moment aired on TV, calling it "hurtful". "I think that women supporting and uplifting other women is so cool, and I think that mom shaming is super lame and I think that it’s hard enough to be a mom and it’s hard enough to be a woman," Sara said on TikTok.
5. Katy Perry backs Rick Caruso for LA mayor
Katy Perry backed Rick Caruso in the LA Mayor race in 2022. Caruso was a Republican-turned-Democrat who had donated to anti-abortion clinics in the past. Many people were shocked by Perry's backing of Caruso over progressive candidate Karen Bass.
6. Katy Perry's bitter legal battle with nuns
Katy Perry had been locked in a protracted legal battle to purchase a former convent run by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary since 2014. The nuns rejected her attempts to purchase the convent and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles instead sued two nuns who were against this bid to prevent Perry from buying the property. The conflict intensified with the death of one nun, and another accusing Perry of having "blood on her hands".
7. Katy Perry kisses an 'American Idol' contestant
During the American Idol's audition rounds in 2018, Perry surprised a 19-year-old contestant Benjamin Glaze by kissing him on the lips. Glaze had mentioned he had never been kissed before. "I was raised in a conservative family and I was uncomfortable immediately," he said. "I wanted my first kiss to be special." Many people thought this to be inappropriate and non-consensual and the pop icon had to face backlash.
8. Katy Perry's legal battle with disabled veteran
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom were locked in a legal battle over a lavish Montecito, California, mansion that was earlier owned by a disabled veteran, Carl Westcott. Though Perry and Bloom ended up winning the case in 2023, the pop icon did face a lot of criticism as Westcott claimed to have lacked the mental capacity to sell his home to Perry and Bloom in 2021.
