The new track from Katy Perry is out now, but not everyone is a fan of her current musical direction
Fans of Perry have been commenting all over social media since the 2020 release of “Smile,” eagerly anticipating her comeback. However, Perry’s most recent song, “Woman’s World,” was released on Thursday, and the advertising around it has been problematic.
KENA BETANCUR/AFP
With lyrics like “It’s a woman’s world and you’re lucky to be living in it” and images that pay tribute to Rosie the Riveter, the music has been regarded as a women’s empowerment song. A vibrator, a bejeweled power tool, and a bottle labelled “whiskey for women” are among the props that Perry has in the music video. Perry is seen being driven about in a huge truck by controversial influencer Trisha Paytas, who makes an appearance in the video.
In the comments section that followed the video’s publication, several of Perry’s “KatyCats” gushed about the artist. While Perry has been busy promoting the song and album over the last month, her personal politics and connections inside the music business have come under fire on social media.
Pop musician and former “American Idol” judge Kelly Clarkson has used themes of female empowerment in songs like “Roar,” but critics have pointed out that the song’s timing is problematic, given the ongoing threats to women’s rights in the United States.
The fact that Dr. Luke, whose real name is Łukasz Gottwald, was credited on the track caused some to voice their indignation. Genius reports that Perry collaborated on the song’s writing with Chloe Angelides and that Dr. Luke, Vaughn Oliver, Aaron Joseph, and Rocco Valdes served as producers.
Kesha sued Gottwald in 2014 in two US courts, one in Los Angeles and one in New York. In 2005, the singer claimed he drugged and sexually raped her. She also claimed he verbally and physically tortured her for ten years.
The producer has refuted Kesha’s claims and is not facing any charges. He charged her of defamation and defamation of character for allegedly making up rape claims in order to get out of her recording contract. Last year, after a legal struggle that lasted over ten years, the defamation claim was finally resolved.
Actress Abigail Breslin said she was the target of death threats after an X post in which she seemed to criticize Perry’s choice to collaborate with Gottwald. “Working with known abusers in any industry just contributes to the narrative that men can do abhorrent shit and get away with it.” She tagged Kesha in the post, but didn’t mention Perry or Gottwald by name.
Some were critical of Perry’s pick and others rallied to her rescue as the topic around Gottwald spilled over into an active “KatyHeads” subreddit. Someone went so far as to say, “the whole rollout is a mess.”
The track’s early assessments mirrored the concerns voiced in the more generalized internet criticism. Its rating was 1 star in The Guardian. According to The Cut, Perry is “stuck in 2016.” Because “it was co-written and co-produced by Dr. Luke,” the uplifting message “rang false,” according to Pitchfork.
Gottwald was involved with Perry’s first three studio albums, which were all dropped before Kesha’s complaint was ever filed. His collaborators in recent years have also come under fire, and they include Kim Petras, Saweetie, and Doja Cat.
Perry has seemed to avoid discussing her collaboration with the producer in recent weeks. People who wanted to know why she was collaborating with him could see her ignoring them in a paparazzi video that went viral.
“Women’s empowerment is the theme of your album, isn’t it?” Someone inquiring is heard off-camera. “Dr. Luke, what brings you into this partnership?”
While Perry was broadcasting live on Instagram on Wednesday, viewers also asked her about Gottwald. None of them were answered by her.
When asked for comment on Friday, neither Perry nor Gottwald’s representatives immediately responded. Capitol Records, the record label publishing the album, likewise did not provide a comment.
In a post on X, Kesha commented “lol” only hours after Perry first announced the new single on June 17. Even while Rolling Stone didn’t reveal that Gottwald was a contributor on Perry’s new album until two days later, many fans assumed it was a response to that fact.
It was brought to the attention of others online that in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral campaign, Perry backed Rick Caruso, who had switched parties from Republican to Democrat. After losing to current mayor Karen Bass, Caruso came under fire from leftists who said she should have known better than to donate to candidates who opposed abortion.
Posting on Instagram, Perry rejoiced at the debut of her new hit. She said to radio broadcaster Zane Lowe that the birth of her daughter Daisy inspired her to start “Woman’s World” in an interview.
In response, Perry expressed her hope that other women would also feel honored upon hearing the news.
The album “143” by Perry is set to be released on September 20th. “The empowering, sexy & provocative pop anthems you’ve come to love” will be included on Perry’s “a sexy, fearless, return to form” album, according to the album description released on Perry’s web shop.
