Katy Perry is under investigation over potential "environmental damage" caused by an "unauthorised" music video she shot in Spain.
The music video for Lifetimes was released last week, and saw the 39-year-old pop star dancing on the beach in the protected dunes of S’Espalmador in the Balearic Islands. However, the Last Friday Night singer has hit back at the claims.
The video - which is said to have been filmed without authorisation - has been met with backlash from her fans, leaving her upcoming album comeback kicking off with negativity.
A press release issued on August 13 by the Government of the Balearic Islands also said the production company had not sought permission to film the music video.
Perry's label said the crew did receive "verbal approval," however, and that they "adhered to all regulations" during filming.
In a statement, the Balearic Islands’ Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment made the claims, explaining: "That is why preliminary investigation actions have been initiated."
Katy Perry's team has hit back against 'environmental damage' claims over her new music video
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However, the statement clarified authorities do not consider Perry’s actions a "crime against the environment" but rather an infringement because general photography and filming "can be authorised" in that area.
A spokesperson from Perry's label, Capitol Records, has now responded to the accusations. They stated: "The local video production company assured us that all necessary permits for the video were secure."
The response continued: "We have since learned that one permit was in process, although we were given verbal authority to go ahead.
"Our local crew on July 22 applied for a permit for this specific location with the Directorate-General For Coasts And Coastline.
Katy Perry's new music video has sparked an investigation
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"Our crew received verbal approval on July 26 to proceed with the filming on July 27. We adhered to all regulations associated with filming in this area and have the utmost respect for this location and the officials tasked with protecting it."
Lifetimes is currently at Number 56 on the UK singles charts, with Perry's 143 album rollout seemingly hit by controversy so far.
Fans' reception to Lifetimes and Woman's World was so poor that a source claimed to the Daily Mail that the singer was "freaking out" and holding crisis talks to "go back to the drawing board" in a bid to save her career.
The Firework hitmaker was also accused of playing into the male gaze as Woman's World is centered around a series of shots of scantily-clad women, including close-ups of their chests, doing traditionally masculine jobs.
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Perry has also been slammed recently for working with music producer Dr Luke - a man embroiled in an ongoing legal war with singer Kesha which started eight years ago.
According to Kesha’s lawsuit and an account from her mother, Luke gave Kesha the date-rape drug GHB and took her back to his hotel room.
Fans of Perry have expressed their concerns over Dr Luke working on the album, with many threatening to boycott listening to it.
