Katy Perry’s New ‘Feminist’ Music Video Sparks Backlash For Seeking ‘Male Gaze’

Katy Perry‘s new “Woman’s World” music video has prompted fans to question why the singer seems so intent on capturing men’s attention.

The song, released on Thursday, has been touted as a women’s empowerment anthem, as it pays homage to Rosie the Riveter and includes lyrics like, “It’s a woman’s world and you’re just lucky to be living in it.”

The video opens with Perry working at a construction site. She appears to pee in a urinal, pouring “Whiskey for Women” all over her body and peeling off her jacket to reveal an American flag bikini. A close-up shot even shows Perry’s breasts moving in slow motion. After being flattened by an anvil, Perry is brought back to life wearing robot-inspired shoes that require her to stick a gas nozzle in her butt cheek to recharge them. The video ends with her stealing a woman’s phone and ring light, boarding a helicopter and screaming “I’m Katy Perry.”

Some of the “Teenage Dream” singer’s fans supported her video. One X user wrote, “It’s Katy Perry’s world and you’re lucking to believe in it.” Another said “Woman’s World” is the “song of the year.”

Others, however, are confused by the song’s message.

“The lyrics with the bizarre imagery and current political issues women are facing give me cognitive dissonance, is it meant to be satire?” one fan asked on social media.

“I thought the first part before the anvil was satire… but then I realized the entire plot was for the male gaze and she just slapped ‘Woman’s World’ on it to pander,” another said.

The music video is not the only reason the song has received backlash. “Woman’s World” was co-written and produced by Łukasz Gottwald, known as Dr. Luke, who was accused of sexual assault and emotional abuse by Kesha in 2014. Many are questioning why Perry chose to include Dr. Luke in a song meant to empower women.

Despite the criticism, the music video already has 3 million views less than 24 hours after its release. The rest of Perry’s new album, 143, will be released on Sept. 20.