Katy Perry’s collaboration with music professional Dr. Luke on her upcoming album has sparked controversy due to Kesha’s previous allegations of sexual abuse against the producer.
The 39-year-old singer collaborates with Dr. Luke, whose full name is Lukasz Gottwald, as well as Max Martin, Sarah Hudson and Stargate on her sixth album, Rolling stone reported on Wednesday.
Perry “knew exactly what album she wanted to make and put together the team to make it happen,” a Capitol Records source told the outlet of the collection of talent the former American Idol judge had assembled for her first release since 2020’s Smile .
Perry and Dr. Luke, 50, have collaborated in the past on hit singles including 2008’s I Kissed a Girl, 2010’s California Gurls and 2013’s Roar.
The online feedback was directed at both Perry and Dr. Luke, who settled a defamation lawsuit with Kesha, 37, last year after she alleged in a 2014 lawsuit that he sexually and physically abused her.
Katy Perry’s collaboration with music professional Dr. Luke on her upcoming album has sparked controversy due to Kesha’s previous allegations of sexual abuse against the producer. Perry, 39, pictured in LA in April
The online feedback was directed at both Perry and Dr. Luke, 50, who settled a defamation lawsuit with Kesha, 37, last year after she alleged in a 2014 lawsuit that he sexually and physically abused her.
Kesha, whose full name is Kesha Rose Sebert, tweeted “lol” following the news that Perry and Dr. Luke were going to work together.
A number of followers speculated on Monday about the meaning of Kesha’s “lol” tweet, with one speculating that “she’s laughing at Katy and her new song,” while another asked, “Is this Katy shade?”
Other people pointed more to Perry’s professional decision to date Dr. Luke to work together.
“It will never be a ‘Women’s World’ because people like Katy Perry abusers in the industry like Dr. Continue to support and uplift Luke,” one user said.
Another added, “I’m actually shocked that so many Katy Perry fans are defending her with this Dr. Luke stuff… it’s okay to hold your favorite artist accountable btw.”
One user said Perry had been doing the math during the move as she “waited for the whole legal process to end before calling him again.”
One user said they “don’t listen,” while another said, “Some people make music with integrity, while others only care about having a #1.”
The fallout from the allegations and the lengthy legal battle with Kesha led artist Doja Cat to declare in December 2021 that she would not work with him in the future.
Kesha, whose full name is Kesha Rose Sebert, tweeted “lol” following the news that Perry and Dr. Luke were going to work together
Some of Kesha’s followers speculated on Monday about the meaning of her “lol” tweet
Others focused more on Perry’s professional decision to date Dr. Luke to work together
“I don’t think I need to work with him again,” Doja Cat said Rolling stone. I don’t think I’ll have to work with him in the future. I know that.’
The Santa Barbara, California native recently released a clip on TikTok previewing her upcoming song Woman’s World, due out on July 11.
Perry said last February that she would leave American Idol after seven seasons to focus on her career as a solo artist.
Kesha and Dr. Luke announced that they had settled their long-running legal battle in June 2023.
Kesha said in a statement at the end of the proceedings: “God only knows what happened that night;” while Dr. Luke said he was “absolutely certain nothing had happened” and that he “never drugged or assaulted her.”
Perry was one of a number of notable names to submit testimony or an affidavit in the case, a group that included Lady Gaga, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne and Adam Levine, according to the AP.