A timeline of Katy Perry's disastrous comeback, as Spanish authorities investigate her new music video

On June 17, Perry teased "Woman's World," the first single off her new album, by releasing cover art and a snippet of the song.

Fans mocked the song's lyrics on social media, saying they sounded dated and like AI had written them.

Others criticized the cover art, accusing Perry of clumsily imitating the aesthetic of buzzy musicians like Charli XCX to appeal to Gen Z.

Soon after Perry released the teaser for "Woman's World," fans discovered that the controversial producer Dr. Luke cowrote and coproduced it. This was the first time Perry had worked with him since 2013, before her career slump.

Kesha sued Dr. Luke in 2014, alleging sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Dr. Luke denied the claims, and the pair came to an undisclosed settlement in June 2023.

Fans were disappointed by Perry's decision to work with him on her singles "Woman's World," which has feminist themes, and "Lifetimes."

Perry has not addressed the criticism.

Perry released "Woman's World" and a music video for it on July 12.

Fans and critics immediately criticized the full song and the chaotic music video, where Perry plays a hyper-sexualized version of WWII-era feminist character Rosie the Riveter.

Perry's riveter gets crushed by an anvil and a sexy half-cyborg that drives around town in a monster truck.

A day after the video was released, Perry released a behind-the-scenes clip on X in which she explained that the video was satirical, but fans were not buying it.

As Business Insider's senior music reporter Callie Ahlgrim wrote in her review of the song last month: "Satire only works when it has something to say, and there isn't a shred of complexity, self-awareness, or cultural analysis in lyrics like, 'She's a flower, she's a thorn / Superhuman, No. 1 / She's a sister, she's a mother.'"

Perry powered through the backlash to "Woman's World" and released the second single and music video from "143," called "Lifetimes."

In the video, Perry flies to the Spanish Balearic islands of Ibiza and Formentera to party.

Fans said the song was better than "Woman's World" and should have been Perry's first single. But it still failed to generate much of a buzz.

In a press release published on August 13, a representative for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment for the Balearic Islands said that Perry's production company did not get the correct authorization to film the "Lifetimes" video in Ses Salines Natural Park.

The park is a protected area, and permission is required to film there.

The department also shut down rumors that they were investigating the production company for damaging the environment.

On August 16, a spokesperson for Perry's label Capitol Records told Business Insider via email that its filming was on the basis of "verbal approval" from officials.

The 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 crew received verbal approval on July 26 to proceed with the filming on July 27," the statement said.

But an official disputed that, writing in an email Monday that it never gave "verbal or written permission."

A representative for Katy Perry did not immediately respond to a comment request from Business Insider.

Amid the chaos of Perry's career comeback, the Video Music Awards named Perry as the latest star to receive MTV's Video Vanguard Award.

This is a lifetime achievement award given to legendary artists such as David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Beyoncé.

Perry is due to be given the award during the VMAs on September 11 and perform a medley of her biggest hits at the event. This could be the last opportunity for Perry to win over fans before "143" is released.