Slate Daily Feed ICYMI - The Internet Has Kept Katy Perry’s Receipts
Apr 22, 2026
Scaachi Koul, Slate senior writer known for sharp cultural commentary, traces Katy Perry’s fall from pop favorite to cultural cautionary tale. Short takes cover Perry’s shifting image, problematic lyrics and appropriation, resurfaced boundary complaints, and whether the change is hers or ours. The conversation probes fame, contradictions, and how public standards have evolved.
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Katy Perry Became A Meme Not A Cultural Voice
- Katy Perry's public image shifted from inventive pop provocateur to culturally irrelevant meme figure.
- Scaachi Koul ties that change to declining music quality, meme moments like Left Shark, and missed cultural reintroduction opportunities.
Early Katy Used Playful Provocation That Later Aged Poorly
- Perry's early appeal blended brash sexuality with digestible pop that felt empowering to many women.
- Scaachi highlights Teenage Dream's record-breaking success and songs like You're So Gay that now age poorly.
Mixed Messages Undermine Feminist Branding
- Collaborating with controversial figures undermines feminist branding when the message and company conflict.
- Scaachi points to working with Dr. Luke while releasing a women's empowerment song as a central contradiction.