Why Did the Internet Turn on Katy Perry?
Does Katy Perry deserve to get so much scorn?
The trajectory of public opinion can be fickle, especially in the realm of pop stardom. Few careers illustrate this volatility better than Katy Perry's—a singer who once dominated charts and cultural conversation, only to face a significant shift in public perception.
Perry's rise to superstardom was meteoric. After bursting onto the scene with "I Kissed a Girl" in 2008, she released "Teenage Dream" (2010), which tied Michael Jackson's record for most number-one singles from a single album. Her biggest singles were bangers, her persona was colorful and campy, and her music videos garnered billions of views.
But around 2017, something changed. The internet—once her playground—seemed to turn against her. Several factors contributed to this shift:
The "Witness" Era Disconnect
Perry's 2017 album "Witness" marked a pivotal moment. Attempting to rebrand herself as "purposeful pop," the album and its promotion felt disconnected from the playful persona fans had come to love. The lead single "Chained to the Rhythm" aimed for political awareness but landed as somewhat hollow activism to many critics: this author will stan "Chained to the Rhythm" all day long. The song where she goes “Swish Swish” less so!
When the album underperformed compared to her previous work, the narrative of "Katy's downfall" began gaining traction online.
Katy Perry Goes to Space
When the question “Why is Katy Perry in space?” became a breakout topic on Google Trends, it was as if the earth had tilted on its axis. Why would any pop star breach the Kármán line and leave the earth’s atmosphere? While floating around in space with Lauren Sanchez for 10 minutes and 21 seconds, Perry sang “What A Wonderful World” and revealed the setlist for her new tour on the back of a butterfly-shaped piece of card. She also took a daisy into space with her in tribute to her daughter, who’s name is Daisy.
Perry clearly expected to be met with adulation for her bravery when she returned from space, but she was instead subjected to relentless mockery. She didn’t appear to have the self awareness to realise that her space adventure could, potentially, be perceived as a shallow PR exercise.
Algorithm Amplification
Social media algorithms tend to amplify negative content, making criticism of Perry more visible than support. Once the "Perry is over" narrative took hold, it became a self-reinforcing cycle. Twitter/X is filled with viral posts mocking her dancing on the Lifetimes Tour and just mocking her in general.
The Taylor Swift Feud
The long-running feud with Taylor Swift (which Perry has since reconciled) divided fan bases during a time when stan culture was becoming increasingly tribal. Swift's narrative positioning herself as the underdog against Perry resonated during an era when authenticity was becoming currency in pop culture.
Changing Pop Landscape
The late 2010s saw a shift toward more introspective, vulnerable pop music (exemplified by artists like Billie Eilish and Lorde). Perry's more bombastic approach began feeling dated to some listeners. The release of her garish song and video for "Woman's World" led to a backlash so severe, it wasn't clear how she would ever come back from it.
The Comeback
Despite the internet's fickle nature, Perry has shown resilience. Singles like "Never Really Over" received positive critical reception, and her 2020 album "Smile" represented a more mature, balanced approach to pop. She is powering through her Lifetimes Tour despite the relentless mockery, performing in what appear to be sold-out arenas (despite all the rumours of poor ticket sales).
The internet's relationship with Katy Perry reveals how quickly public opinion can shift in the digital age. While she may never recapture the cultural dominance of her "Teenage Dream" era, her enduring career demonstrates that internet backlash isn't necessarily a career death sentence—sometimes it's just another chapter in a long story of reinvention.
In an industry that often discards artists after their commercial peak, she continues to evolve and create on her own terms. The Katy Perry redemption narrative could be a powerful one.
