Katy Perry defends working with Dr. Luke amid criticism

After receiving criticism from fans for working with controversial producer Dr. Luke on her new album 143, Katy Perry has broken her silence and defended the choice to collaborate with the hitmaker.

On Wednesday's episode of Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast, Perry, 39, responded to a question from the host, who referenced fan "disappointment" that Perry "decided to involve Dr. Luke on this album." Cooper then asked Perry why the pop star re-teamed with her "California Gurls" and "Dark Horse" partner on new material, after fellow singer-songwriter Kesha engaged in a years-long legal battle with Dr. Luke after she accused him of sexually assaulting her.

"Look, I understand that it started a lot of conversations, and he was one of many collaborators that I collaborated with. But, the reality is it comes from me. The truth is I wrote these songs from my experience of my whole life going through this metamorphosis, and he was one of the people to help facilitate all that, one of the writers, one of the producers," the former American Idol judge replied, going on to reference the album's lead single, "Woman's World," which was produced by Dr. Luke and was touted as a female-empowerment anthem.

Perry continued: "I am speaking from my own experience, like, when I speak from when I speak about 'Woman’s World,' I speak about feeling so empowered now as a mother, as a woman, giving birth, creating life, creating another set of organs, a brain, a heart. I created a whole ass heart, and I did it, and I’m still doing it, and I’m still a matriarch and feeling really grounded in that. That’s where I’m speaking from."

The performer said she "created all of this with several different collaborators," including "people that I’ve collaborated with from the past, from Teenage Dream era, all of that."

She added that she's "always been authentic in trying different genres" and "investigating different sounds," and she doesn't feel that she's "ever been inauthentic" in her artistry.

"I don’t think I’ve like went for a trend or anything. I just do what makes me happy and that I resonate with and that gives me those chill bumps, and even more so now, like, I don’t feel like I have to make music," she finished. "I don’t feel like I have to prove anything. I’m doing it now from a place of celebration and love."

A representative for Perry did not respond to Entertainment Weekly's repeated requests for comment ahead of the release of "Woman's World" in July, while representatives for Sony Music, parent company of Dr. Luke's Kemosabe Records, didn't immediately respond to EW's inquiry about the Call Her Daddy podcast.

Controversy first brewed for Dr. Luke after Kesha filed a lawsuit against him in 2014, accusing the producer of sexual assault and battery and longterm emotional and psychological abuse.

Dr. Luke strongly denied the allegations and countersued Kesha for defamation, with a judge  dismissing Kesha's case in 2016 and rejecting her move to be released from her recording contract with Dr. Luke and Sony, citing the statute of limitations and a lack of merit in the allegations. Kesha eventually countersued Dr. Luke's defamation suit, using a law preventing lawsuits that she said attempted to intimidate accusers into being silent. Perry was involved in the ongoing legal matter, after a text message from Kesha to Lady Gaga also alleged that Dr. Luke had assaulted Perry. Perry subsequently denied the accusation under oath, per the Los Angeles Times.

Kesha and Dr. Luke eventually settled the dispute in June 2023, when they released a joint statement.

"Only God knows what happened that night," Kesha's wrote in her portion of the statement. "As I have always said, I cannot recount everything that happened. I am looking forward to closing the door on this chapter of my life and beginning a new one. I wish nothing but peace to all parties involved."

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Dr. Luke added: "While I appreciate Kesha again acknowledging that she cannot recount what happened that night in 2005, I am absolutely certain that nothing happened. I never drugged or assaulted her and would never do that to anyone. For the sake of my family, I have vigorously fought to clear my name for nearly 10 years. It is time for me to put this difficult matter behind me and move on with my life. I wish Kesha well."

Perry is, by far, not the only pop star to have teamed with Dr. Luke since Kesha first alleged abuse against him. Kim Petras has released numerous songs with the producer, while Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez, Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga have all released material Dr. Luke worked on across the last decade.

Listen to Perry speak about working with Dr. Luke in the podcast above. 143 is out on Sept. 20.