Katy Perry investigated by Spanish government for 'environmental damage' after 'unauthorised' music video
Katy Perry is being investigated by the Spanish government
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Katy Perry's music video for her new song, Lifetimes, has left her under investigation by the Spanish government after concerns were raised that the 39-year-old caused environmental damage to the protected dunes of the islet of S’Espalmador in the Balearic Islands.
The Lifetimes video sees Perry boarding a ferry wearing a t-shirt reading "Eurotrash" to a Spanish island where she dances around in a leopard print bikini on a beach and heads to a local club.
The video - which is said to have been filmed without authorisation - has been met with backlash from her fans, leaving her upcoming album comeback to kick off with negativity.
A press release issued on August 13 by the Government of the Balearic Islands said the production company had not sought permission to film the music video.
The statement further explained that - while at no point did Perry's production company request the necessary permissions for the shoot - the case is not being considered for the charge of "crime against the environment".
Perry and her team are more than likely hoping that Lifetimes will kickstart her comeback, but it's not just for environmental reasons why many are turning their back on the Teenage Dream hitmaker.
Katy Perry can be seen dancing on the dunes within Spain
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Fans' reception to Lifetimes and Woman's World was so poor that a source claimed to the Daily Mail that the Roar singer was "freaking out" and holding crisis talks to "go back to the drawing board" in a bid to save her career.
Perry 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.
The 39-year-old was also slammed for working with music producer Dr Luke - a man embroiled in an ongoing legal war with singer Kesha over the past eight years, with multiple battles lost on both sides and seemingly no end in sight.
According to Kesha’s lawsuit and an account from her mother, while at the party Luke gave Kesha the date-rape drug GHB and took her back to his hotel room.
Katy Perry released Lifetimes in a bid to revive her music career
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Long-term fans of Perry issued their concerns over Dr Luke working on the album with many threatening to boycott listening to the album, as one Instagram user slammed: "Katy, from one writer to another - these lyrics are not it. Fire your co-writers & dig deep for the heartfelt lyrics that move your fans. I know you can write better than this!"
Another fumed: "This isn't it. There is no substance to this. It's so generic and bland. We know you can release bigger hits and actual good pieces of art in the form of music. Witness should be the direction you should go in, not this. Please listen to the constructive criticism and realize that this sound ain't it right now."
"I feel like this song is made to just be purposefully controversial. With such a wonderful voice and the huge following you have, I wish you would have put more thought into your message of female empowerment. I urge you to write better lyrics," a third added.
Someone else who was left disappointed said: "I don't feel empowered by this. I also feel that leading with a sexual foot is unnecessary. As far as I’m aware generally women don’t want/need to see this.
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"Also clearly my 'women’s world' looks very different to Katy's as I am currently neither wearing a bikini with chaps nor am I swinging off the side of a private jet. This one has missed the mark for me and afraid. This does not celebrate women maybe women’s bodies but not women."
"A 'feminist' anthem produced by Dr. Luke? Hard pass," another jibed before a sixth agreed: "Really girl?? Dr LUKE?? HARD F***ING PASS." (sic)