Katy Perry finds herself in the midst of controversy yet again, this time coming under fire for her newly released single “Woman’s World” and a poorly received social media post about soccer, leading to a significant decrease in her social media following.
The pop sensation has stirred up controversy due to her collaboration with music producer Lukasz Gottwald, also known as Dr. Luke, for the track, which she teased on June 17. Gottwald faced allegations of assault and emotional abuse from singer Kesha in 2014, resulting in a legal battle that ended with a settlement in June 2023.
Following Kesha’s accusations, artists working with Gottwald have faced scrutiny. Perry had previously teamed up with him on chart-topping hits like “I Kissed a Girl” and “California Gurls.” The association with Gottwald on “Woman’s World” has overshadowed the song’s intended message of empowering women.
Amid the criticism surrounding “Woman’s World,” Perry took to social media on July 14 to celebrate the UEFA European Football Championship, commonly known as the Euros, and show her support for the English soccer team.
In a now-infamous post on X (formerly Twitter), Perry exclaimed, “FOOTBALL IS COMING HOME,” accompanied by a U.K. flag emoji. Despite garnering over 69 million views, social media users were quick to point out that Perry, an American engaged to British actor Orlando Bloom, had used the U.K. flag instead of England’s flag.
As a result of these controversies, Perry has witnessed a notable decline in her social media following, losing over 350,000 followers across platforms. While the backlash from “Woman’s World” and her soccer post may explain the drop, there’s also speculation that the decrease could be due to the removal of fake accounts and bots.
Earlier this year, Perry bid farewell to her seven-year stint as a judge on American Idol, a decision that left fans wondering about her replacement on the show.
Reflecting on her departure, Perry expressed her love for Idol and its connection with the American audience during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in February, stating, “But I feel like I need to go out to feel that pulse of my own beat.”