Katy Perry's Lifetimes Tour, which kicked off in Mexico City after the pop star's recent spaceflight, has faced significant criticism over its early performances, including online scrutiny regarding ticket sales, choreography, vocals, and costume design. The tour follows Perry’s highly publicised voyage to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin’s all-female crewed flight.
Perry, 40, was one of six passengers on the 11-minute Blue Origin mission, an excursion that sparked controversy related to its environmental impact and financial cost. During the trip, Perry wore a blue jumpsuit and carried a small daisy, symbolic of her daughter, which became a focal point for criticism regarding the perceived tone-deafness of the venture. In space, Perry sang to her fellow passengers and upon returning to Earth, she kissed the ground. She also used the opportunity to promote her new world tour.
The initial concert date in Mexico City presented fans with a show featuring eclectic elements such as lightsaber battles, robotic dance moves, AI-generated graphics, backup dancers dressed as droids, and giant floating moons. Despite the visually ambitious production, many attendees and viewers expressed confusion and disappointment over the concert's seeming lack of cohesion and subpar musical and performance qualities.
A notable theory has emerged on social media, particularly through a TikTok video by user Catherine, suggesting that the concert's disjointed feel may be due to last-minute cancellations of planned space-themed segments directly referencing Perry’s spaceflight. Catherine proposed that the original show was intended to showcase Perry in her astronaut suit, complete with the daisy and space elements like a rocket stage setup, but these were reportedly scrapped following backlash after the Blue Origin mission.
In her TikTok clip, Catherine said, "Katy Perry was going to come out in her blue astronaut suit. I bet that's what happened, she was going to have the daisy, that's why she was wearing the tight jumpsuit and she was going to come out dancing like that." She speculated that the complex visual components, such as moon props and space effects, remained due to the difficulty and expense of removing them, but other items like aliens and the daisy were replaced with more generic sci-fi elements like robots and lightsabers.
"This is the first theory that makes complete sense," commented one viewer on the video which has since garnered over 2.5 million views. Another added, "She thought she was going to come back and be beloved for going to space." Fans drew connections between Perry’s spaceflight and details of the show, noting, for instance, that a butterfly prop Perry held during the flight was in fact her Lifetimes tour setlist.
Despite the negative reactions, many of Perry’s devoted fans have defended the tour, highlighting the artist's history of playful, quirky performances and creative concepts. One supporter noted, "The concept is that she’s in a video game collecting hearts to defend the main villain which is AI! Her show actually has a deep meaning and purpose!" Others emphasised that Perry has consistently incorporated space themes into previous tours and suggested that her creative risks should be appreciated rather than criticised.
Perry’s Lifetimes Tour, following her widely covered journey to space, continues to evolve as it travels internationally, drawing varied responses from audiences and critics alike. The Daily Mail is reporting that the early challenges faced by the production, especially regarding how Perry’s space adventure has been integrated—or not—into the show, are a focal point for ongoing discussion among fans and observers.
Source: Noah Wire Services