Katy Perry is finally addressing the Dr. Luke-sized elephant in the room

Katy Perry has addressed the controversy surrounding her recent collaborations with embattled producer Dr. Luke on the latest episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast.

The pop icon is gearing up for the release of her new album, 143, and her first two singles, "Women's World" and "Lifetimes," have been met with "disappointment" and "upset" by some who are boycotting Luke, who produced the two songs.

"I understand that it started a lot of conversations and he was one of many collaborators that I collaborated with," said Perry. "But the reality is, it comes from me. The truth is, I wrote these songs from my experience of my whole life going through this metamorphosis, and he was one of the people to help facilitate all that. One of the writers, one of the producers."

Dr. Luke worked closely with Perry on her first three albums released between 2008-2013 and is behind all of her nine No. 1 songs over the years, including "California Gurls" and "Firework."

"I am speaking from my own experience. When I speak about ‘Woman’s World,’ I speak about feeling so empowered now, as a mother, as a woman, giving birth, creating life, creating another set of organs. A brain! A heart! I created a whole ass heart! And I did it, and I’m still doing it. I’m still a matriarch and feeling really grounded in that, that’s where I’m speaking from. So I created all of this with several different collaborators, people that I’ve collaborated with from the past, from Teenage Dream era. All of that."

Perry's history with the producer has been colored by Dr. Luke's legal troubles with fellow pop star Kesha.

In 2013, "Tik Tok" singer Kesha accused Dr. Luke of abusing her "sexually, physically, verbally and emotionally" in a court of law in an effort to be released from her record label contract, but the case was dismissed in 2016 over jurisdiction and statute-of-limitation issues. As Dr. Luke countersued for defamation, a "Free Kesha" movement picked up steam. That case was only just settled in 2023.

Perry's involvement in the case is messy, considering she and Kesha were once friends. During the defamation suit, Dr. Luke's attorneys released texts between Kesha and Lady Gaga where the two called Perry "mean" and the former claimed Perry had also been raped by Dr. Luke. Perry was then subpoenaed in court and denied the allegation on the stand, though the full deposition has been sealed. Kesha and Gaga later clarified that they heard the rumor from an industry executive.

Kesha was forced to finish out her record deal to be released from Dr. Luke's label, which happened only last year, but her fans have become the outspokenly critical of anyone who works with the producer. He's recently made hits for Nicki Minaj, Kim Petras, Doja Cat, Saweetie, and more, though the depth of his involvement is unclear.

Katy Perry's new album 143 drops September 20.