Pop icon Katy Perry has sparked controversy with her latest release, “Woman’s World,” and its accompanying music video directed by Charlotte Rutherford. Critics have accused Perry of presenting a dated women’s empowerment message and of catering to the male gaze with her Rosie the Riveter-inspired visuals.
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Responding to the backlash on Instagram, Perry addressed the criticism head-on, asserting, “YOU CAN DO ANYTHING! EVEN SATIRE!” In a behind-the-scenes video from the shoot, Perry elaborated on her creative approach, describing it as tongue-in-cheek and intentionally over-the-top. “We’re playing with sarcasm here, it’s very slapstick and exaggerated,” she explained. “The set plays on this idea of rejecting the male gaze while simultaneously embracing it, but in a way that’s so exaggerated that it becomes a commentary on itself.”
Perry emphasized that the video’s dramatic scenes, including moments where she faces impending destruction, serve as a metaphorical reset. “It’s about challenging and then resetting my own perceptions of feminine power,” she added. “After this, we enter a whole new realm.”