Katy Perry's controversial Dr Luke collab: fans upset by tone-deafness following Kesha's allegations

It appears Katy prioritized a hit song over considering how Kesha (or other women) might perceive this collaboration.
Pop Culture & Art | July 11, 2024

It's a Woman's World, and Dr. Luke shouldn't be a part of it. 

That's how the song goes, right? Katy Perry, a pop icon, seems to be disappointing fans lately. The 'Teenage Dream' singer is making a big comeback with her new single 'Woman's World' and upcoming album '143.' However, she's not receiving the response she expected. Why? Because the snippet of 'Woman's World' she previewed sounds like something AI would create to appeal to millennials... and also because she decided to collaborate on her album with Dr. Luke.

You probably know Kesha's serious accusations against the producer, leading to a decade-long legal battle. So, why is Katy collaborating with him on a women's empowerment project?

What are Kesha’s allegations against Dr. Luke? 

In case you missed it, Dr. Luke has been widely condemned. In 2014, Kesha sued him, alleging sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. He countered with a defamation lawsuit, leading to nearly a decade of legal disputes. Kesha settled his defamation case about a year ago.

In sworn testimony in 2017, Kesha described the abuse from Luke as lasting “a decade long, every day, every moment of every day.” Dr. Luke has denied her allegations, calling them “completely untrue and deeply hurtful.”

Why is Katy Perry continuing to work with Dr. Luke in the face of Kesha’s allegations against the producer?

It appears Katy prioritized a hit song over considering how Kesha (or other women) might perceive this collaboration.

According to a source from Capitol Records, “Katy knew exactly the album she wanted to make and put together the team to make it happen.” For her comeback album, she reunited with several past collaborators, including Dr. Luke.

He and Max Martin have produced many of Katy's successful songs, such as "I Kissed a Girl," "Last Friday Night," "California Gurls," "E.T.," "The One That Got Away," "Dark Horse," and "Roar."

So, yeah... practically all of them. But is having a surefire hit more crucial than ethical considerations? There are numerous other accomplished producers available. Well, there's at least Jack Antonoff and Dan Nigro. Even better, why not consider a female producer for a song titled "Woman's World"?

What is Katy Perry’s response to the Dr. Luke controversy?

Katy Perry hasn't addressed her collaboration with Dr. Luke publicly, especially given Kesha's allegations. What could she realistically say that wouldn't exacerbate the situation? In a TMZ video in Paris, as she navigates through a crowd, someone asks, “Isn’t your album about women empowerment? Why are you working with Dr. Luke?”

Despite clearly hearing the question, Katy remained silent.

What is Kesha’s reaction to Katy Perry working with Dr. Luke?

Just hours before Katy announced their collaboration, Kesha tweeted, "lol," which appears to be her response.

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