Culture Study Podcast Why Is Katy Perry So Embarrassing?
Why Katy Perry's Pop Stardom Feels Cringe in 2024
Katy Perry's current image and music struggle because she is perceived as stuck in a millennial pop feminism era that no longer resonates. Her attempts at campy, playful pop now feel hollow and out of touch, especially as she hasn't shown authentic growth or deeper cultural critique.
She embodies a contradiction: promoting empowerment while aligning with problematic figures like Dr. Luke and being involved in self-serving legal battles. Unlike contemporaries like Taylor Swift or Lady Gaga, Perry hasn't evolved her authenticity or artistry, making her current work feel superficial and cringe-worthy.
Her recent space trip and promotion of "Women’s World" fail to connect meaningfully with today’s feminist and cultural movements, further alienating her audience. This disconnect fuels the intense cultural backlash, as she symbolizes a naive past era’s hopes and subsequent disappointments.
Katy Perry's Rise and Fall
- Katy Perry once was a chart-topping pop queen but faded out of the spotlight over the last eight years.
- Zach Stafford notes she's struggling with her fall from peak fame while still believing she's a superstar.
Katy as Millennial Feminism Zombie
- Katy Perry embodies a millennial feminism that now appears outdated and naive.
- She is seen as the "zombie" of this feminism, performing it without real political heft or meaning.