Katy Perry Dodges Questions About Her Choice to Work with Dr. Luke

Pop star Katy Perry has attempted to defend her decision to work with controversial producer Dr Luke after facing criticism from fans.

The 39-year-old “California Gurls” singer is gearing up for the release of her new album 143, following the release of the lead single “Woman’s World”, produced by Dr Luke.

In 2023, the producer, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, settled a nine-year legal battle with pop singer Kesha ahead of a trial in which he claimed she defamed him in 2014 by accusing him of drugging and raping her after a party in 2005. He has vehemently denied the accusations.

Perry was named in Dr. Luke’s defamation lawsuit against Kesha in July 2017, when he alleged that Kesha told pop star and actress Lady Gaga via text message that he had also raped Perry. Perry has denied any such attack occurred.

Appearance on Call her daddy podcast, host Alex Cooper asked Perry why she decided to work with Dr. Luke again.

“Look, I understand that this started a lot of conversations, and he was one of many collaborators that I worked with,” she said. “But the truth is, it came from me.

“The truth is I wrote these songs based on my whole life experiences of going through this metamorphosis, and he was one of the people who helped facilitate it all, one of the writers, one of the producers.”

Perry and Dr Luke first worked together on her second album, released in 2008. One of the boys, which produced hits such as “I Kissed a Girl”, “Waking Up in Vegas” and “Hot n Cold”.

They continued working together on Perry’s third album, A teenager’s dream, with chart-topping singles including “Teenage Dream” and “Last Friday Night,” as well as more Prism in 2013.

Perry continued, “I speak from my own experience when I talk about ‘Woman’s World,’ I talk about feeling so strong now as a mother, as a woman, giving birth, creating life, creating another set of organs, a brain, a heart.

“I created the whole heart, I did it and I still do it, I’m still the matriarch and I feel really grounded in it. That’s the point from which I say that. And so I created all of this with a few different collaborators, people I’ve worked with in the past, (the) A teenager’s dream “Era, all of that.”

Perry was criticized on social media for not answering the question directly.

“Her response about working with him… downplayed it by saying she worked with other people on the album as well,” wrote Mr Pop, a user of the X/Twitter pop culture account.

“’Why did you work with Dr. Luke?’” sneered one critic. “Katy Perry: ‘Motherhood. I’m a woman. Babies!!! I’m a woman.’”

“Woman’s World” peaked at No. 63 on Billboard’s Hot 100 upon its release, a disappointing start to the pop singer’s comeback.

She was widely ridiculed for her song lyrics described by Independent Adam White as a “fake feminist pastiche” that sounds “disturbingly old-fashioned” in 2024.

The accompanying video was also the subject of mockery, with viewers left bewildered by seemingly ironic scenes in which Perry wore a Rosie the Riveter-style outfit, a stars-and-stripes bikini, and a work jumpsuit that revealed her underwear.

Hollywood actress Abigail Breslin also posted a coy remark on X/Twitter following the song’s release, due to Dr. Luke’s involvement.

“On a side note, I love @KeshaRose and she put on one of the best shows I’ve been to in the last year… check out Kesha!” she said.

Perry’s new album 143 is due out on September 20th.

Rape Crisis offers support to people affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn at 800-656-HOPE (4673)