If Katy Perry’s recent dance moves on her “Lifetimes Tour” had a horoscope, I’m betting Mercury was in full retrograde — because, boy, did the internet erupt! While the pop diva twirled and flashed her playful moves in Houston, daring her haters to “show them this when they say I can’t dance,” the reaction was anything but graceful. Is this a mid-life crisis moonwalking across the stage, or just a cosmic push for Perry to shake off the critics with a wink and a cheeky shimmy? Regardless of the planetary positioning, Perry’s bold attempt to clap back amid a whirlwind year — complete with spaceflight drama and album backlash — reminds us all that sometimes, you just gotta dance like nobody’s watching… even when everyone is. Curious how therapy, fan love, and a sprinkle of stardust keep her grounded despite the chaos?
Katy Perry is facing renewed backlash over her dance moves while attempting to clap back at her critics.
During the singer’s “Lifetimes Tour” in Houston, she showed off her playful dance moves while directly calling out her haters. However, netizens couldn’t help but poke fun at her intentional silly dance.
This comes after Katy Perry addressed online criticism, sharing how therapy and fan support help her stay grounded.
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After receiving backlash online for her dance moves, Perry made a bold statement during the North American launch of her Lifetimes Tour at Houston’s Toyota Center on May 7.
In a viral fan-captured video, the pop icon paused mid-performance of “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.),” grinned at the crowd, and cheekily declared, “Show them this when they say I can’t dance!”
She then broke into exaggerated, playful moves swinging her arms and legs energetically before lifting her skirt and cheekily flashing the audience.
Perry has been getting brutally criticized since she participated in Blue Origin’s recent historic all-female 11-minute spaceflight, which drew mixed reactions due to its hefty price tag and growing concerns around the commercialization of space exploration.
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In her attempt to slam her haters, Perry only invited more mockery from people who called out her behavior online.
One person asked on X, “Are we witnessing a mid-life crisis in real time??” while another said, “She’s gone from fun to desperate and needy. Pushed out by Taylor.”
A third individual noted, “What a terrible performer. She should have just [gone] out when she was on top.”
However, amid the backlash, several fans of Perry came to her defense, with a person writing, “This is one of the reasons why I love her so much. Some of you can’t even take a pic with your favs. Meanwhile, ours can fool around us.”
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Taking to Instagram on April 29, Perry also responded to criticism she’s faced online, with a heartfelt message under a post highlighting a Times Square billboard made by fans.
Addressing the negativity, she said: “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.”
The “I Kissed A Girl” singer noted that her fans’ ongoing support helps her stay true to herself, writing, “We’re in this beautiful and wild journey together.”
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Perry added: “I can continue to remain true to myself, heart open and honest, especially because of our bond. I love you guys and have grown up together with you and am so excited to see you all over the world this year!”
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Perry opened up further in her message, reassuring fans that she’s in a good place emotionally.
“Please know I am ok,” she wrote. “I have done a lot of work around knowing who I am, what is real, and what is important to me.”
She also shared advice from her therapist that stuck with her: “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.”
Perry went on to highlight the realness she experiences on tour: “What’s real is seeing your faces 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.”
While the backlash Perry faces today is making headlines, the negative press has been simmering since the release of her seventh studio album, “143,” last fall.
The album was met with lukewarm to harsh reviews, with lead single “Woman’s World” criticized by some as a shallow take on feminism.
Critics also took issue with her collaboration with producer Dr. Luke, whose controversial legal battle with Kesha over sexual assault allegations ended in a settlement.
Things only got worse when the singer went on Blue Origin’s all-female crew’s space trip. According to a report, while Perry does not “regret” the spaceflight, she wishes she hadn’t made a public spectacle of the event upon her return to Earth.