Katy Perry’s “Women’s World” Faces Major Backlash
Katy Perry’s rollout for her new song “Women’s World” is going from bad to worse. The music video now has more dislikes than likes on YouTube, and the response has been so overwhelmingly negative that Katy had to release a video explaining that the first half of the song is meant to be satirical.
Controversy with Dr. Luke
Fans are questioning Katy Perry’s decision to work with Dr. Luke, with many asking, “Katy, is there a reason why you work with Dr. Luke?” This collaboration is drawing heavy criticism. With a new album on the way, Katy seems to realize this isn’t working. Despite her attempts to fix things, many believe that until she drops Dr. Luke, no one’s going to buy her explanation.
The Song and Its Reception
Katy Perry’s new song, created with Dr. Luke, has been released, and it’s not helping her case. It’s not the worst song ever, but it’s far from the best. Now, Katy is claiming the song is satirical, but many think she knew it wasn’t going to be a hit from the start. Critics argue that the intended girl power message doesn’t come through; instead, it feels disingenuous. Some even compare her to Ellen DeGeneres, suggesting that her sincerity is questionable.
The Music Video’s Disconnect
The music video features Katy Perry dancing in skimpy outfits, repeatedly singing, “It’s a woman’s world, and you’re lucky to be living in it.” At one point, she gets crushed by an anvil and reinflated, marching through chaotic streets. One viewer commented, “This is what a feminist video would look like if it was made by a guy.” Despite being labeled a feminist anthem, the video feels out of sync with the message and comes off as overly suggestive. Reactions on Twitter have been harsh, calling the video cringe-worthy and outdated. In response, Katy Perry stated on social media that the song was meant to be a joke and not to be taken seriously. However, it seems no one needed that clarification—no one’s taking it seriously anyway.
Katy says, “We’re having fun with it and being a bit sarcastic. It’s very slapstick and on the nose. We’re saying, ‘Oh, we’re not about the male gaze,’ but then we really are, overplaying it to make a point.” She’s admitting they’re playing into a stereotype, but feels this kind of messaging is overdone. The whole “girl boss, you can do it” vibe is something they’re being sarcastic about, emphasizing a slapstick approach. They’re exaggerating the idea of rejecting the male gaze while leaning into it as a way to reset her perspective on femininity.
Now, Katy Perry and her record label are worried because her comeback single is getting bad reviews from fans and critics. Vulture called it “the stall is sort of retreat,” the Cut said “Woman’s World” was forgettable and cringe, and the Guardian called it regressive and dated. Amidst this backlash, Katy is reportedly holding crisis talks to save her album. Insiders say she’s desperately trying to win back fans and is blaming everyone but herself. With the single dropping on the US iTunes chart, she’s demanding her team rework the album to prevent further decline.
“Katy is panicking because she’s aware of the negative feedback ‘Woman’s World’ is getting. She seems unhappy, which comes through in her work because she doesn’t like the song. She’s blaming everyone else, and with Dr. Luke involved, it’s likely to be a continuous problem for the album. If I were her, I’d scrap everything—change the album name, the visuals, and get a new producer. The visuals were good, but for her long-term reputation, she needs to distance herself from Dr. Luke and rework the songs.”
Let me give you some context. Dr. Luke is a music producer who’s worked with big names like Kim Petras, Doja Cat, and Kesha. He’s been accused of some pretty serious stuff by Kesha, leading to a lawsuit that dragged on for years. Recently, Doja Cat claimed he took credit for her music when he didn’t do much, while Kim Petras continues to support him for some reason. He’s a significant figure in the music industry, but I personally find him quite toxic.
Now, onto Katy Perry. Her song “Woman’s World” hasn’t been well-received, debuting at number 110 on Spotify’s US chart with just half a million streams. I streamed it once out of curiosity, and honestly, it’s as bad as I expected. The song’s so poorly received that Katy had to release a video explaining that the first half was meant to be satirical. But I think the satire completely misses the mark. The song was supposed to represent Katy’s rebirth and her connection to her divine feminine side without relying on male approval or commercial products. However, there’s no clear shift in tone or visuals to make this point, so listeners didn’t catch the satire at all.
According to sources, Katy is now demanding changes to the album before more singles are released. The album, titled “143” (which means “I love you”), is due on September 20th. Since I’m recording this on July 20th, she has about two months to make these adjustments. This will be her first album since 2020’s “Smile,” which also didn’t do well. Despite teasing a new era, it seems like more of the same old stuff.
Things aren’t looking great for “Woman’s World” either. As of this morning, the song has more dislikes than likes on YouTube—329,000 dislikes versus 325,000 likes. Despite Katy’s talent for creating nostalgic and committed projects, this song feels uninspired. Even though the music video was supposed to be satirical, it didn’t land, and the catchy chorus wasn’t enough to save it. I think Dr. Luke’s involvement is partly to blame for its failure. Many people online are talking about how poorly it’s doing, especially when compared to Kesha’s recent success. I’m not a huge fan of Kesha’s new song, but it’s better than Katy’s latest. Given Kesha’s history with Dr. Luke, it seems people are rallying behind her more, which isn’t helping Katy’s case.
Katy Perry was part of the lawsuit between Dr. Luke and Kesha, being subpoenaed to testify because some of her text messages were used in Kesha’s defense. Now that Katy Perry is working with Dr. Luke again, it brings up all that negative history. Even if her new song and Kesha’s new song are equally good, I think Kesha’s might do better because people know her story and recognize its importance. This is her first release after breaking free from Dr. Luke, who has a terrible reputation. Meanwhile, Katy Perry’s song might not do well because people may feel it’s not only mediocre but also don’t want to support it due to Dr. Luke’s involvement.
Katy also faced criticism for the sexualized nature of her video and her decision to work with Dr. Luke after his legal battle with Kesha. I think it’s important to keep talking about the Kesha-Dr. Luke lawsuit, especially for younger fans who might not know about it. I have detailed videos explaining the situation. It’s crucial for fans to understand why working with Dr. Luke is controversial. Sources say Katy’s biggest risk was reconnecting with Dr. Luke. I get why she did it; her early hits like “I Kissed a Girl” and “California Gurls” were produced by him, and she might be trying to recapture that success. But honestly, I think he’s lost his touch.
Dr. Luke denies all allegations and countersued Kesha and her mother for defamation. Because of their legal agreement, Kesha probably can’t publicly comment on Dr. Luke, but she expresses her feelings through her actions and statements, like wearing an “LOL” t-shirt. When asked about Katy Perry working with Dr. Luke, it’s clear people are still discussing it. It’s a sensitive topic for Kesha, and her reaction in interviews shows how much it affects her. Fans have voiced their disapproval of any artist working with Dr. Luke. Some of Katy’s fans say she was contractually obligated to work with him, but Katy confirmed she has no ties to him anymore, so that’s not true. With enough pushback, artists can avoid working with controversial figures.
In her 2018 deposition for Kesha’s lawsuit, Katy confirmed she only signed a three-album deal with Dr. Luke. She’s now on her sixth album, so she doesn’t have to work with him. She knew that working with him during his legal battles with Kesha wouldn’t be well-received. Maybe she thought people would forget over time, but with people like me discussing it online, that won’t happen. I love sharing this information and keeping the conversation going.
When asked if working with Dr. Luke would affect the success of her future releases, the “Dark Horse” singer responded, “People would protest against it, start a smear campaign, and create 20 different narratives about who I am.” It’s confusing why she chose to partner with him, knowing this reaction was likely. “Katy, is there a reason you’re working with Dr. Luke? You’re known for supporting women’s empowerment; why are you collaborating with Dr. Luke?”
The Daily Mail revealed that Katy had been warned against collaborating with Dr. Luke, but she ignored the advice. Now, she faces public backlash for her decision. An insider commented that it was “insane” for her to think working with Dr. Luke was a good idea. “She didn’t listen to anyone. Instead of creating something fresh, she released a track that could have been from her 2010 album, with half-hearted lyrics. She’s soft and confident. Like, please, I’m over it. I don’t want to hear this song at bars or clubs. Don’t you dare try to remix it.”
The track, featuring Dr. Luke, was mainly written by men. It’s hardly a feminist anthem when it’s written by Dr. Luke, Aaron Joseph, Vaughn Oliver, and Rocco Did It Again, with Katy and Chloe being the only women involved. Not a single woman produced this album. A source remarked, “You don’t make a song about female empowerment with a team of mostly men. Katy cannot relate to other women because she lives in her celebrity bubble. She doesn’t understand what it’s like to be a woman in the real world. She’s using her star power to make money, not to create change,” which was evident when she started doing “American Idol.” It signaled a loss of passion for music, unlike Taylor Swift, who continually produces and writes music out of genuine love for it. Whether you like Taylor Swift or not, you can’t deny her dedication to her craft, which is why she’s so successful.
This person tweeted, “Katy Perry’s new song ‘Woman’s World’ is being called a feminist anthem. Ironically, it was produced by three men, including Dr. Luke, who has been accused of misconduct by Kesha. The music video was also directed by a man. What do you think? Is this really a ‘Woman’s World,’ or is it still a man’s world? If Katy had made this an all-female project, she could have proudly promoted it as a song entirely by women. But it seems she doesn’t care. Someone gave her the song, and she just went along with it.”
Another person wrote, “I can’t listen to any new Katy Perry song produced by Dr. Luke. I have many reasons for disliking him, and I just can’t support his career. I’m sorry, Katy, but I’m really disappointed.” I share that disappointment. As the music and entertainment industries evolve, we should be learning from past mistakes and doing better. There are so many talented people out there—why not give new voices a chance? Imagine if Katy Perry had chosen an all-female team or collaborated with new, up-and-coming indie producers. That would bring fresh energy and a new perspective, rather than the same old ‘Woman’s World.’
I’m happy for Trisha Paytas getting her moment, but this isn’t about her being in the music video. It’s about the choices Katy Perry is making. People criticized Trisha, but it’s not her fault. She might not be aware of the complexities involved.
On a side note, my hair is dry and crispy because I just came from the gym and sweat a lot. Does anyone else get sweat in their eyes, making them sting? Am I consuming too much salt?
I’m feeling a bit nauseous just thinking about all this. I hope you enjoyed this video and my little rant. I need some good vibes my way because I recently applied for a job I really want. Please send positive energy my way. Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you soon. Bye!