Katy Perry Responds To Backlash For Working With Dr. Luke

Katy Perry is speaking out about her decision to continue working with Dr. Luke on her new album “143,” after Kesha accused the producer of sexually abusing her for over a decade.

Perry, 39, was asked about why she chose to work with Dr. Luke on the upcoming album on the Sept. 4 episode of “Call Her Daddy.”

“Look, I understand that it started a lot of conversations, and he was one of many collaborators that I collaborated with,” she said. “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,” she continued.

Dr. Luke, born Lukasz Gottwald, has been one of Perry’s longest collaborators, from producing her 2008 hit “I Kissed a Girl” to her most recent single, “Woman’s World.”

Kesha sued Gottwald in 2014, alleging he had drugged her and sexually assaulted her in 2005. No criminal charges were filed. Gottwald denied the accusations, and the suit was dismissed in 2016, according to NBC News.

Gottwald also sued Kesha for defamation, and they reached a settlement in 2023. After the settlement was announced, they both issued a set of statements, according to NBC News.

“While I appreciate Kesha again acknowledging she cannot recount what happened that night in 2005, I am absolutely certain that nothing happened,” Gottwald said at the time. “I never drugged or assaulted her and would never do that to anyone.”

Kesha said at the time: “Only God knows what happened that night, 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.”

Perry has faced criticism from fans for working with Gottwald on several tracks on her new record, which drops on Sept. 20. She also works with other pop producers like Max Martin, Sarah Hudson and Stargate.

Her singles have become embroiled in controversy, from what fans called a “missed opportunity” in the music video for “Woman’s World,” to an investigation from the Spanish government into if the proper permits were obtained to film the music video for her second single, “Lifetimes.”

A spokesperson for Perry’s label said in a statement to NBC News the teams behind the video adhered to all regulations associated with filming in the area and have the “utmost respect for this location and the officials tasked with protecting it.”

“The local video production company assured us that all necessary permits for the video were secured. We have since learned that one permit was in process, although we were given verbal authority to go ahead,” the spokesperson said. “Our local crew on July 22 applied for a permit for this specific location with the Directorate-General For Coasts And Coastline. Our crew received verbal approval on July 26 to proceed with the filming on July 27.”

Perry, who shares a daughter with her partner Orlando Bloom, said on “Call Her Daddy” that “Woman’s World” came from a place of femininity.

“I am speaking from my own experience,” she said. “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 a– heart and I did it. I’m still doing it. And I’m still a matriarch. And feeling really grounded in that, that’s where I’m speaking from.”

She continued: “I created all of this with several different collaborators, people that I’ve collaborated with from the past, from the ‘Teenage Dream’ era — all of that.”

The song “Teenage Dream” was produced by Gottwald and Martin, as well as Benny Blanco.

The “Firework” singer added that her decision to release new music came from a purely artistic standpoint.

“I don’t feel like I have to make music,” she said. “I don’t feel like I have to prove anything. I’m doing it now from a place of celebration and love.”