The historic fall off of Katy Perry
Photo courtesy of Raph_PH / Wikimedia Commons
Whipped-cream-bra-wearing icon Katy Perry was once a pop sensation, dominating the charts with five number-one hits on the Billboard 100 from her album Teenage Dream (2010). Those growing up in the 2000s may remember songs such as “California Gurls,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.),” and “Firework” on every radio station, hyping up every backyard event, and family car ride.
Without a doubt, Katy Perry was a staple in many childhoods. Her iconic Super Bowl XLIX performance was the only one where every song performed was a number one hit, and the entire stadium could finish her lyrics in confidence. Her “Dark Horse” 2014 Grammy performance— featuring a giant horse, gothic attire, and additional theatrics —also solidified her ability (at the time) to branch out in her sound and performance.
Unfortunately, Witness (2017) marked the beginning of her flop era (lack of success). While the album debuted at number one on Billboard 200, it quickly fell from the top ten in the following week. The album was met with mixed reception, but it is undeniable that none of the featured tracks rivaled the popularity of her previous work.
The album Katy Perry released during the pandemic, Smile (2020), was criticized for being “lyrically weak,” dooming it to allegations of being cliché, redundant, and a watered-down version of her older stuff. Whether it was the lack of promotion, events of the world at the time, or the objectivity of her music, Smile (2020) was received as an unsuccessful, empty shell of her old sound.
Criticism towards Perry’s sound did not stop there; in July 2024, the release of “Woman’s World,” a song that aimed to empower women and uplift their identities, received an immense amount of backlash and accusations of being “insincere.” Not only was it produced by Dr. Luke, who has faced past allegations of sexual misconduct, but its music video— featuring women wearing revealing clothing, holding beer —was interpreted as a creation for the male gaze.
Allegedly, the song received enough controversy that when proposed to candidate Kamala Harris during her run in the 2024 presidential campaign, it was politely rejected. Aside from mockery, I personally have not seen much of this song on social media platforms or Spotify playlists.
Most recent talk of Katy Perry revolves around her trip to outer space— which was certainly not on anyone’s 2025 bingo card. The popstar took a quick 11-minute trip to the stars with a group hosted by Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sánchez. Many think this decision is a testament to her desperation and irrelevancy, reemphasizing the looming wealth disparity in the country and an out-of-touchness that infects many celebrities.
Personally, I believe if this publicity stunt were pulled in the 2010s, the reaction to Katy Perry would be much different. Celebrities were not held to the same level of criticism as they are today, a product of the pandemic and the current political climate. Instead, people would be excited that Perry is using her fame to engage the general public with science and space launches. Like with her recent music videos and songs, it is clear that Perry made another miscalculation of the values and mindset of this current generation.