It is not a good week to be Katy Perry. The singer, 41, has lost a 17-year legal fight in Australia over a near-identical name—and then faced fresh furor over her now-viral response to a struggling fan.
Newsweek reached out to Katy Perry’s publicists for comment via email.
High Court Loss in ‘Katie Perry’ Trademark Battle
On March 11, Australia’s High Court ruled in favor of Sydney fashion designer Katie Jane Taylor (born Katie Perry), finding that Taylor’s KATIE PERRY clothing trademark should not be canceled since it was not likely to mislead consumers.
The dispute traces back to 2009, when lawyers for the singer—who was preparing to tour Australia—contacted the designer about her use of the name.
Taylor launched her fashion label under the “Katie Perry” name in 2007 and applied to register KATIE PERRY as a clothing trademark months later. The singer—born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson—has performed under the stage name “Katy Perry” since 2002.
According to CNN, Taylor said she was about to realize her dreams in 2009 when she had just opened her first showroom for her colorful basics—and then received the letter.
“Just picture it. I had just launched my first showroom,” Taylor said, describing opening her mail and seeing the words “cease and desist.”
“I remember, bursting into tears and thinking, what is this all about? I haven’t done anything wrong,” Taylor added.
A spokesperson for the “California Gurls” singer said in a statement to multiple media outlets Perry “has never sought to close down Ms. Taylor’s business or stop her selling clothes under the KATIE PERRY label.”
The two sides later took different trademark paths. Taylor secured registration of KATIE PERRY for clothing, while the singer’s trademarks proceeded in music and entertainment categories, not apparel.
The court battle escalated years later. Taylor filed proceedings in 2019, alleging the singer’s merchandise sales in Australia infringed her clothing mark. A federal-court decision in 2023 found infringement connected to Katy Perry-branded merchandise sold during the singer’s Australian tour, but that ruling was overturned. Perry’s legal team argued that her trademark should be canceled.
Viral Backlash Over Fan Interaction
However, the legal ruling wasn’t the only controversy gaining traction online.
On March 10, a fan posted on X that they were struggling financially and emotionally, writing: “I so badly don’t wanna be here anymore…I cannot afford to live at this rate and I’m so close to selling my Katy ticket.”
Katy Perry responded from her verified account: “But I am looking forward to seeing you!”
The reply was widely criticized as “tone-deaf,” with commenters saying the response did not reflect the seriousness of what the fan had shared.
“If you ‘loved her,’ you’d give her a VIP Meet and Greet Package and tell her to sell the ticket so she could have extra money to enjoy the show. This is so tone deaf lmao [laughing my a^^ off]. I ‘love’ you, don’t sell the ticket! I need my tour to look sold out !!!” said one user on X.
“God, you are so out of touch,” said another user.
Amid the backlash, multiple commentators referenced Perry’s wealth. Forbes has listed the singer at an estimated $360 million net worth.
On March 13, Perry posted a broader message urging kindness, writing: “i love you. be kind. always take the high road if you can my kc’s. it’s much lighter here…so excited to share my joy and light with you this summer…” Perry affectionately refers to her fandom as “KatyCats.”
Many fans jumped Perry’s defense and shared appreciation for their idol.
“The internet can be chaotic, but messages like this make it feel a little brighter,” shared one user. “We love you, thank you for always being a ray of light. It’s always so fascinating to see how you lead with love; it’s inspiring. I wish more people would emulate your heart, mind and soul. You’re a beautiful person,” shared a poet and pop culture fanatic called Killah Dolls.
The singer also revealed she was posting more on social media because she is “feeling safer to be more myself again.”
A Superstar Who Is No Stranger to Scrutiny
The pop star is no stranger to global attention. Alongside her music catalog—including era-defining hits such as “Teenage Dream” and “I Kissed a Girl”—Perry also made headlines for her Blue Origin flight on April 14, 2025, when she was part of an all-female celebrity crew on a brief suborbital trip that lasted around 10 to 11 minutes from launch to landing.
Perry has also drawn tabloid and entertainment coverage for her relationship with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, after the pair were first linked in July 2025 and later confirmed their relationship publicly