Are you wondering why Katy Perry is facing backlash over her collaboration with Dr. Luke? As she gears up for the release of her new album, 143, set to drop on September 20, 2024, fans have raised concerns about her working with the controversial producer. Dr. Luke, whose real name is Łukasz Sebastian Gottwald, was embroiled in a public legal battle with Kesha, and his involvement in Perry’s latest project has sparked outrage.
Here’s everything you need to know about the controversy and how Katy Perry responded.
Katy Perry responds to Dr. Luke controversy
Netizens are reportedly unhappy that Perry decided to work with Dr. Luke again, even after the drugging, sexual assault, and other serious allegations that singer-songwriter Kesha leveled against the record producer in her October 2014 lawsuit. (via The New York Times)
At the time, Dr. Luke denied those accusations and filed a counter-lawsuit against Kesha and her mother. Eventually, the matter was settled out of court in June 2023 a month before the start of the trial for the case, as per The Hollywood Reporter.
Perry’s collaboration with Dr. Luke on her upcoming album has reignited the debate, and fans took to social media to express their discontent. During her appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Perry addressed the controversy.
“I understand that it started a lot of conversations and he was one of many collaborators that I collaborated with. But the reality is, it comes from me,” Perry said. Further, she added, “The truth is, I wrote these songs from my experience of my whole life going through this metamorphosis, and he was one of the people to help facilitate all that. One of the writers, one of the producers. I am speaking from my own experience.”
Perry also shed light on the meaning of the single Woman’s World. Released on July 11, 2024, the track is part of 143 and one of those on which Dr. Luke contributed.
“When I speak about ‘Woman’s World,’ I speak about feeling so empowered now, as a mother, as a woman, giving birth, creating life, creating another set of organs,” Perry explained. “A brain! A heart! I created a whole ass heart! And I did it, and I’m still doing it. I’m still a matriarch and feeling really grounded in that, that’s where I’m speaking from. So I created all of this with several different collaborators, people that I’ve collaborated with from the past, from ‘Teenage Dream’ era. All of that,” she added. (via Yahoo! Entertainment)
Previously, Perry worked with Dr. Luke on popular tracks such as I Kissed a Girl, California Gurls, and Teenage Dream.
