Katy Perry says online critics are trying to make her a ‘human piñata' following tour, space flight

NBC News

30-04-2025

Katy Perry wrote a long response to a fan-made ad congratulating her for finishing the first week of her 'Lifetimes' tour, amid backlash about the tour and her recent trip to space.
Perry responded to a video of the ad posted to a fan account on Instagram, writing in a comment that she is able to remain true to herself, 'heart open and honest,' because of the bond she has with her fans.
'Please know I am ok, I have done a lot work around knowing who I am, what is real and what is important to me,' she said. 'My therapist said something years ago that has been a game changer, 'No one can make you believe something about yourself that you don't already believe about yourself,' and if I ever do have any feelings about it then it's an opportunity to investigate the feeling underneath it.
'When the 'online' world tries to make me a human Piñata, I take it with grace and send them love, cause I know so many people are hurting in so many ways and the internet is very much so a dumping ground for unhinged and unhealed,' she continued.
Perry said that what is real to her is seeing her fans in the crowd every night, 'singing in unison, reading your notes, feeling your warmth.'
'I find people to lock eyes and sing with and I know we are healing each other in a small way when I get to do that,' she said, adding an infinity emoji.
'I'm not perfect, and I actually have omitted that word from my vocabulary, I'm on a human journey playing the game of life with an audience of many and sometimes I fall but… I get back up and go on and continue to play the game and somehow through my battered and bruised adventure I keep looking to the light and in that light a new level UNLOCKS,' she added.
Perry's comment came after her 'Lifetimes' tour began on April 23 in Mexico City. The singer has since faced criticism for the show's choreography and stage design from social media users online.
Earlier this month, Perry was also part of the all-female flight crew that took a roughly 10-minute trip to space aboard a Blue Origin spacecraft. The flight quickly garnered controversy, as everyday people, fast-food companies and celebrities, like Olivia Munn and Emily Ratajkowski, questioned the sustainability of a trip to space.
'What's the point?' Munn said while co-hosting TODAY With Jenna & Friends on April 3. 'Is it historic that you guys are going on a ride? I think it's a bit gluttonous. ... Space exploration was to further our knowledge and to help mankind. What are they going to do up there that has made it better for us down here?'
Perry did not directly respond to the criticism of the flight, but several of her fellow crew members like Lauren Sanchez, Gayle King and Aisha Bowe did during a press conference on April 14.
'I'm not going to let you steal our joy, but most people are really excited and cheering us on and realize what this mission means to young women, young girls and boys, too,' King said.
'I feel anybody that's criticizing doesn't really understand what is happening here,' she added, later in the press conference. 'I've heard it, we've all heard it and we were even all talking about that, and I hope that they will do a deep dive into what this represents.'
Sanchez, the fiancée of Blue Origin and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, also shared her perspective.
'I get really fired up a little bit on this,' Sanchez said. 'I would love to have them come to Blue Origin and see the thousands of employees that don't just work here but they put their heart and soul into this vehicle. ... They love their work and they love the mission and it's a big deal for them.'
'So when we hear comments like that, I just say, 'Trust me. Come with me. I'll show you what this is about, and it's really eye-opening,'' she continued.