Katy Perry Defends “Woman’s World” as Satire Against Backlash Calling it “Cringe”

Katy Perry fires back at critics who have panned her latest single “Woman’s World.”

The singer, who hasn’t released a single since 2021, has been met with scathing criticism for working with alleged sexual abuser and music producer Dr. Luke and for what’s seen as anti-feminist content. People have accused the “Woman’s World” music video of using the male gaze because Perry and a cast of women are dressed as sexed-up construction workers before an anvil kills her. She then reawakens as a new version of herself.

Perry took to Instagram to address the backlash with a behind-the-scenes look at her music video and a caption that stated, “YOU CAN DO ANYTHING! EVEN SATIRE!”

The singer said in the video, “We’re kind of just having fun being a bit sarcastic with it. It’s very slapstick and very on the nose.”

She continued, “And with this set, it’s like, ‘Oooh, we’re not about the male gaze but we really are about the male gaze,’ and we’re really overplaying it and on the nose because I’m about to get smashed, which is like a reset, a reset for me, and a reset for my idea of feminine divine, and it’s a whole different world we go to after this.”

Critics have called the single “pandering nonsense” by The Guardian, Pitchfork said it was a “monumental catastrophe” and The Cut said it was “so forgettable” and “so cringe.”

Katy Perry has come under fire for her newest single, “Woman’s World,” the first she has released since 2021. The backlash primarily stems from her collaboration with Dr. Luke, a music producer accused of sexual abuse, and what some perceive as anti-feminist messages in the song and its accompanying video. In the music video, Perry and a cast of women are depicted as overly sexualized construction workers. The video ends with an anvil falling on Perry, followed by her reawakening as a new version of herself.

Critics have been vocal about their disapproval. They claim the video caters to the male gaze and diminishes its feminist potential. Despite the criticism, Perry took to Instagram to defend her work. She shared a behind-the-scenes video of the music video production with the caption, “YOU CAN DO ANYTHING! EVEN SATIRE!”

In the video, Perry opened up about the satirical nature of her project. “We’re kind of just having fun being a bit sarcastic with it. It’s very slapstick and very on the nose,” she said. She explained further, suggesting that the set design and the exaggerated portrayal of the male gaze were intentional. “It’s like, ‘Oooh, we’re not about the male gaze but we really are about the male gaze,’ and we’re really overplaying it and on the nose because I’m about to get smashed, which is like a reset, a reset for me, and a reset for my idea of feminine divine, and it’s a whole different world we go to after this.”

Perry’s explanation aimed to add context to the video’s seemingly contradictory elements. She sought to clarify that the over-the-top elements were meant to criticize the very tropes they appeared to celebrate.

Despite this, many remain unconvinced. The Guardian dubbed the single as “pandering nonsense,” while Pitchfork described it as a “monumental catastrophe.” The Cut went so far as to label it “so forgettable” and “so cringe.”

The ongoing debate highlights the complexities artists face when engaging with controversial figures and sensitive topics. Perry’s attempt at satire was an effort to inject humor and irony into serious cultural critiques. However, even with her clarifications, the reception has been polarizing.

This episode adds another chapter to the broader discourse on how art interacts with feminism and how artists navigate collaborations that may bring unwanted baggage. While Perry’s defenders appreciate her attempt at satire, her detractors find it hard to move past her association with Dr. Luke and the perceived missteps in her portrayal of feminist themes.

Source: The Guardian, Pitchfork, The Cut