Katy Perry’s comeback with her new song “Woman’s World” has hit some bumps, mainly because she’s working with Dr. Luke, a producer who’s been surrounded by controversy.
Dr. Luke, known for his work with various artists, was sued by pop star Kesha for serious issues like sexual harassment. This lawsuit, and Dr. Luke’s countersuit, dragged on for years. They only reached a settlement in 2023, just before going to trial. Throughout the legal battle, Perry stayed clear of Dr. Luke to avoid any backlash. But now, she’s back working with him, and it’s causing a stir.
People are debating whether Perry chose to collaborate with Dr. Luke on her own or if she was contractually forced to. Some reports suggest that Perry might have been required to make more albums with him, but it’s not entirely clear. This idea comes from a legal document that mentioned how much money Dr. Luke claimed he could have earned from future work with Perry if the lawsuit hadn’t hurt his career.
While some fans think Perry is putting out a poor-quality song on purpose because she doesn’t want to give Dr. Luke a hit, it’s more likely that the $10.2 million mentioned in the legal case was just an estimate of potential future earnings rather than proof of a binding contract.
Perry herself has stated that working with Dr. Luke was a tough choice, especially given the public’s reaction. She didn’t want to be seen as supporting someone accused of serious misconduct, but she also believed in the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.”
Many other female artists have spoken out against Dr. Luke, adding to the controversy. Kelly Clarkson, Bebe Rexha, and Pink are among those who have criticized him. However, Perry has kept her stance neutral, wanting to stay out of the drama between Kesha and Dr. Luke.
As of now, neither Perry, Dr. Luke, nor Kesha have commented on Perry’s new song or the collaboration. Perry’s album, titled “143,” is scheduled to come out on September 20, 2024.
