Katy Perry defends collaboration with Dr. Luke on new album despite criticism

After being criticized by fans for working with controversial producer Dr. Luke on her new album 143Katy Perry has broken her silence and defended her decision to collaborate with the hitmaker.

In Wednesday's episode of Alex Cooper's Call her daddy On a podcast, Perry, 39, responded to a question from the host, who mentioned fans' “disappointment” that Perry “decided to involve Dr. Luke on this album.” Cooper then asked Perry why the pop star was reteaming with her “California Gurls” and “Dark Horse” partner for new material after fellow singer-songwriter Kesha had a years-long legal battle with Dr. Luke after she accused him of sexually harassing her.

“I understand that it sparked a lot of conversations, and he was one of many collaborators I worked with. But the reality is that it comes from me. The truth is that I wrote these songs from my experience that I had during this metamorphosis of my whole life, and he was one of the people who helped make it all possible, one of the writers, one of the producers,” said the former American Idol the judge replied, referring to the album's first single, “Woman's World,” which was produced by Dr. Luke and touted as an anthem for female empowerment.

Perry continued, “I speak from my own experience. For example, when I talk about 'Woman's World,' I talk about how I feel so powerful now as a mother, as a woman giving birth to a child, creating life, creating another organ system, a brain and a heart. I created a whole heart, and I did, and I still do, and I'm still a matriarch and feel really grounded in that. That's where I speak from.”

The artist said she “created all of this with several different collaborators,” including “people I’ve worked with in the past, from Teenage dream Era, all that.”

She added that she has “always been authentic when it comes to trying different genres” and “exploring different sounds,” and that she doesn't feel like she has “ever been inauthentic” in her art.

“I don't think I've followed a trend or anything. I just do what makes me happy and what speaks to me and that gives me goosebumps. And even more so now, I don't feel like I have to make music,” she concluded. “I don't feel like I have to prove anything. I do it for joy and love now.”

A representative for Perry did not respond to Weekly entertainment's repeated requests for comment before the release of “Woman's World” in July, while representatives from Sony Music, the parent company of Dr. Luke's Kemosabe Records, did not immediately respond to EW's request for comment on the Call her daddy Podcasts.

Controversy surrounding Dr. Luke first arose after Kesha filed a lawsuit against him in 2014, accusing the producer of sexual assault and battery, as well as long-term emotional and psychological abuse.

Dr. Luke strongly denied the allegations and filed a countersuit against Kesha for defamation. A judge dismissed Kesha's lawsuit in 2016 and denied her request to be released from her record deal with Dr. Luke and Sony, saying the allegations were statute-barred and without merit. Kesha eventually filed a countersuit against Dr. Luke's defamation suit, citing a law that prevents lawsuits and which she says is designed to silence accusers. Perry became involved in the ongoing legal case after a text message from Kesha to Lady Gaga also claimed that Dr. Luke had assaulted Perry. Perry subsequently denied the allegations under oath, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Kesha and Dr. Luke finally settled the dispute in June 2023 when they released a joint statement.

“Only God knows what happened that night,” Kesha wrote in her portion of the statement. “As I have always said, I cannot share everything that happened. I look forward to closing this chapter of my life and starting a new one. I wish nothing but peace to everyone involved.”

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Dr. Luke added, “While I appreciate Kesha once again admitting that she cannot recount what happened that night in 2005, I am absolutely certain that nothing happened. I never drugged or assaulted her and would never do that to anyone. For the sake of my family, I have fought vigorously for nearly 10 years to clear my name. It is time for me to put this difficult matter behind me and move on with my life. I wish Kesha the best.”

Perry is far from the only pop star to have collaborated with Dr. Luke since Kesha first accused him of abuse. Kim Petras has released numerous songs with the producer, while Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez, Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj and Tyga have all released material Dr. Luke has worked on over the past decade.

Hear Perry talk about working with Dr. Luke in the podcast above. 143 will be released on September 20th.