The production company behind Katy Perry's new music video shot on protected land that required a filming permit, Spanish authorities said.
Accompanying the Aug. 8 release of her new single, “Lifetimes,” the 39-year-old pop singer shared a video in which she dances across the Spanish islands of Ibiza and Formentera.
Balearic Islands government officials said in an Aug. 13 statement that Perry and her team, including director Stillz and production company WeOwnTheCity, did not get permission to film in the Ses Salines Natural Park.
While filming is allowed in the area with a permit, the statement said that Perry's production company did not request authorization. "Preliminary investigations" have been initiated, per the statement.
Responding to the Spanish authorities in a statement to TODAY.com, a label spokesperson said, “The local video production company assured us that all necessary permits for the video were secured. 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. 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” marks the second single off Perry’s upcoming album, “143,” which is set to drop Sept. 20. This marks the singer’s first record since “Smile,” which was released in 2020.
Perry, who recently left judging “American Idol,” released “Woman’s World,” her first single from the upcoming album, last month.
After the track faced backlash, with critics saying the video sent an anti-feminist message, Perry shared a response on Instagram.
In behind-the-scenes footage, shared as an Instagram reel, Perry explained the video was meant to be parody.
“You can do anything! Even satire!” she captioned the video, with a group of women dressed as construction workers.
“We’re kind of just having fun being a bit sarcastic with it,” she says in the video. “It’s very slapstick and very on the nose.”
In the video, Perry explains that the group of women are together acting like they’re “not about the male gaze,
"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," she said.
