The pop star’s most recent phase has not won over all of her admirers, despite the release of her new song.
Following the release of “Smile” in 2020, Katy Perry‘s admirers have been sharing posts on social media in anticipation of her comeback to the spotlight. Perry’s most recent single, “Woman’s World,” was released on Thursday, but the build-up to it hasn’t been easy.
With lyrics like “It’s a woman’s world and you’re lucky to be living in it” and tributes to Rosie the Riveter, the song has been hailed as an anthem for women’s emancipation. Perry can also be seen clutching a vibrator, a bejeweled power tool, and a bottle marked “whiskey for women” in the music video. The film has an appearance by controversial influencer Trisha Paytas, who is shown chauffeuring Perry about in a massive truck.
After the music video was released, Katy Perry received a ton of love from “KatyCats,” as her admirers are known. However, Perry’s personal politics and her connections in the business have come under fire online as she has been promoting the tune and her next album over the past month.
Some have pointed out that the pop artist’s message feels hollow at a time when women’s rights in the United States are still under attack. The former “American Idol” judge had previously capitalized on women’s empowerment in her singles like “Roar.”
When it was discovered that record producer Łukasz Gottwald, also referred to as Dr. Luke, was given credit on the track, several expressed indignation. Perry co-wrote the song alongside Dr. Luke, Vaughn Oliver, Aaron Joseph, Rocco Valdes, and songwriter Chloe Angelides, according to Genius.
In 2014, Kesha filed lawsuits in New York and Los Angeles against Gottwald. The singer said that in addition to verbally and physically abusing her for ten years, he drugged and sexually attacked her in 2005.
All of Kesha’s accusations have been refuted by the producer, who is not facing any criminal charges. He sued her for defamation, claiming that she had made up stories about being raped in order to avoid having to fulfill her recording contract. After over ten years in court, the two finally reached a settlement for defamation last year.
In a post on X, actress Abigail Breslin claimed to have gotten death threats for seemingly criticizing Perry’s choice to collaborate with Gottwald. She added that “Working in any field with known abusers just serves to reinforce the stereotype that males can engage in heinous behavior and get away with it,” without naming Perry or Gottwald. She also named Kesha in the post.
A lively “KatyHeads” subreddit became involved in the Gottwald discussion, with some users criticizing Perry’s decision and others supporting her. It was also said by one user that they thought “the whole rollout is a mess.”
The problems raised in the more extensive online critique were reflected in the track’s early reviews. One star was awarded by The Guardian. Perry was characterized by The Cut as being “stuck in 2016.” Its inspiring message, according to Pitchfork, “rang false, simply because Dr. Luke co-wrote and co-produced it.”
Perry’s first three albums, all of which were released prior to Kesha suing him, were produced by Gottwald. His latest collaborations with Doja Cat, Saweetie, and Kim Petras have also drawn criticism from other artists.
Perry has seemed to sidestep any inquiries on his collaboration with the producer in recent weeks. She was seen dismissing questions about why she was working with him from people in a widely shared paparazzi video.
“Is your album not about the empowerment of women?” Someone can be heard asking off-camera. “Why do you collaborate with Dr. Luke?”
In addition, Perry fielded inquiries concerning Gottwald on Wednesday during a livestream from her Instagram page. None of them got a response from her.
Requests for response on Friday were not immediately answered by Perry and Gottwald’s representatives. Additionally unresponsive was a representative for Capitol Records, the label that is releasing the CD.
Kesha posted a “lol” on X a few hours after Perry made the first announcement about the new song on June 17. Although Rolling Stone didn’t reveal that Gottwald was a co-author on Perry’s most recent album until two days later, many fans conjectured that it was a response to learning that he had worked with Perry on it.
Online users brought attention to Perry’s vote for Republican-turned-Democrat Rick Caruso in the mayoral election of Los Angeles in 2022. Caruso was attacked by leftists for having previously donated to lawmakers who opposed abortion. Caruso lost to current mayor Karen Bass.
In an Instagram post, Perry commemorated the debut of her track. In an interview with radio broadcaster Zane Lowe, she revealed that “Woman’s World” came into being following the birth of her daughter Daisy.
Perry remarked, “After reading this, I hope other ladies experience a sense of celebration, as I have throughout my life.”
The release date of Perry’s album “143” is set for September 20. “A sexy, fearless, return to form for the multifaceted musician” with “the empowering, sexy, & provocative pop anthems you’ve come to love” is what the album description on Perry’s website promises.