Pop icon Katy Perry has publicly addressed the recent wave of backlash surrounding her latest musical work, ongoing tour, and high-profile trip to space earlier this month. In a heartfelt message to fans on social media, the singer said she has felt “battered and bruised,” but is continuing to remain optimistic, “looking to the light” through it all.
Perry, 40, has faced criticism in recent weeks following the underwhelming reception of her sixth studio album, 143, as well as the rollout of her accompanying Lifetimes Tour, which launched in March. The album has struggled to achieve the chart dominance and cultural impact of her earlier records, such as Teenage Dream (2010) and Prism (2013), and reviews have been mixed.
The backlash intensified after her participation in a headline-grabbing commercial space flight. On April 14, Perry was among an all-female crew who completed an eight-minute suborbital mission aboard Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos. Other crew members included “CBS Mornings” anchor Gayle King and journalist Lauren Sánchez, who is also Bezos’ fiancée.
The space flight was meant to highlight the growing role of women in aeronautics and technology. However, it quickly became the subject of online mockery and memes, with some critics labeling the event as tone-deaf given global economic and environmental issues. Social media reactions were swift and unrelenting — even fellow celebrities including Olivia Munn and Amy Schumer appeared to poke fun at the flight. Fast food chain Wendy’s also joined the commentary in a viral tweet that drew additional attention.
Perry Responds to Fans, Not Critics
While Perry has not directly addressed the flight or its critics, she broke her silence over the weekend in a long message posted to a fan-run account, Katy Perry Brasil. The account had posted a photo of a billboard funded by fans to promote her Lifetimes Tour, which Perry acknowledged with a deeply personal note.
“I’m so grateful for you guys,” Perry wrote. “We’re on this beautiful and wild journey together. I can continue to remain true to myself, heart open and honest especially because of our bond.”
She continued, “Please know I am OK. I have done a lot of work around knowing who I am, what is real and what is important to me.”
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The message appears to serve as both a thank-you to loyal fans and a subtle reflection on the criticism she’s faced. Perry referenced advice from her therapist, noting: “No one can make you believe something about yourself that you don’t already believe about yourself.”
“When the ‘online’ world tries to make me a human piñata, I take it with grace and send them love,” she added. “I know so many people are hurting in so many ways and the internet is very much so a dumping ground for the unhinged and unhealed.”
A Public Life, With Private Impact
Perry went on to describe the emotional toll of being in the spotlight, while also sharing how her connection with fans keeps her grounded. “I keep positive by focusing on what’s real: seeing your faces every night, singing in unison, reading your notes, feeling your warmth,” she wrote.
“I find people to lock eyes and sing with and I know we are healing each other in a small way when I get to do that.”
She concluded the message with a reminder of her humanity. “I’m not perfect — I’ve even omitted that word from my vocabulary. I’m on a human journey, playing the game of life with an audience of many. Sometimes I fall, but I get back up and go on,” she said. “Somehow through my battered and bruised adventure, I keep looking to the light. And in that light, a new level unlocks.”
Defense from Critics
Perry’s candid response drew support from her core fan base and some members of the media. In a column published this week by Variety, chief correspondent Daniel D’Addario argued that Perry’s relevance is underscored not by her successes alone, but by her resilience in the face of public scrutiny.
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“She is owed consideration not just for her past achievements but for the painful fact that she compels as much in failure as she previously did in success,” D’Addario wrote. “On a wrongheaded space flight or crying on stage while singing a 15-year-old song, Perry still holds our gaze. That may not be artistry, exactly. But it’s what makes a star.”
