Katy Perry: ‘Everybody’s getting naked. I don’t have to get naked to be noticed’

Katy Perry

Katy Perry covers the December issue of Glamour UK to promote Prism. I don’t know what’s going on with me lately with Katy. I’m actually warming to her “music,” but this cover reminds me of everything that ever annoyed me about Katy Perry. The quirky hairdo, the kicky feathers, and the oh-so-precious hand placement — it’s all so wrong. The cover boasts a headline about “sex, success & surviving her darkest days,” which means she’ll probably trash Russell Brand again in the interview. Glamour hasn’t released excerpts yet but has revealed that Katy says she’d only be friends with Rusty “in another lifetime.” There you have it.

Katy also sat down with NPR, which describes her as “the biggest pop star in the world” (someone had better warn Miley Cyrus about that). Many topics of discussion came to the forefront, but the most interesting detail is how Katy feels about pop stars who use their sexuality to make it big. Ahem:

On writing “Roar”: “I was living in a little bit of fear. And I just kind of just listened to myself and I thought, you know what, I need to kind of find that inner strength again ’cause I had just been through a real, a little bit of a self-confidence shattering in my own personal life. And so I was just looking for my voice again, and that came out as a roar.”

Her thoughts on “other” pop stars: “Well, I think I like to be an inspiration. I think when you set out to be an artist, first and foremost – a musician, a rock ‘n’ roller – you don’t come with this kind of, like, hey, I also want to be a role model that, obviously, will let you down because I’m a human being. And a lot of people see me as a role model but I’d like to kind of turn that around and say I appreciate that but I’d like to be seen as an inspiration. Because a role model, I think, will fail you. I mean, I couldn’t tell kids when it’s time for them to try things or do things. I mean, that’s not my role. But, you know, it’s funny. I do see myself becoming this, whatever, inspiration out of default right now, ’cause it’s such a strange world. Like females in pop – everybody’s getting naked. I mean, I’ve been naked before but I don’t feel like I have to always get naked to be noticed. But it’s interesting to see…

“I’m not talking about anyone in particular. I’m talking about all of them. I mean, it’s like everybody’s so naked. It’s like put it away. We know you’ve got it. I got it too. I’ve taken it off for – I’ve taken it out here and there. And I’m not necessarily judging. I’m just saying sometimes it’s nice to play that card but also it’s nice to play other cards. And I know I have that sexy card in my deck but I don’t always have to use that card. And especially like with this new song called “Unconditionally” that’s on the record.”

On getting back onstage: “Lately, I’ve been all ritualed up because I’m trying to build endurance for being back on stage, ’cause I was kind of off the stage for a year and ate a lot of fatty foods and, you know, got a little plump. And that was OK. But now it’s time to get back in the game. Sometimes I do this thing called transcendental meditation that helps. So, that’s kind of my ritual.”

On being a pop star: “It’s a balancing act. It’s like dancing and running and jumping and sleeping all on a balancing beam. But it’s super fun and sometimes you get a great soundtrack to go along with that dance.”

[From NPR]

Katy also sat down with a French television program to further elaborate on her position: “I really like all of my focus and attention to be on my music. I’m 28 now and I’m an old lady, so I keep my clothes on!” Says the girl who — just five years ago — stroked a kitty while singing about getting it on with another girl. Says the girl who posed naked (with only a cotton candy cloud to cover her “modesty”) on the Teenage Dream album cover. Says the girl who shot whipped cream out of her boobs. And so on.

Here’s the rest of Katy’s Glamour shoot. I like the red ribbon photo — it’s super cute. Very festive.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry

Photos courtesy of Glamour

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84 Responses to “Katy Perry: ‘Everybody’s getting naked. I don’t have to get naked to be noticed’”

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  1. blue marie says:

    She needs to stop it, I get what she’s saying but she’s being a bit of a hypocrite. She wants to be an inspiration but doesn’t even know what feminism is? Yeah, okay..

    • LadyMTL says:

      Never mind that she got famous because of a song called “I kissed a girl.” I know that’s not quite the same thing as stripping down and posing for Terry Richardson but yeah, she sounds slightly hypocritical, IMHO.

      • QQ says:

        Never mind the Entire California Gurls song and Video… I mean is Cool for HER to be naked and shotting foam from her tits, Yes?

      • mabooski says:

        This silly trollop has some nerve, could she NOT. Take a look at your back catalogue boo!

    • Dani2 says:

      I know right? Has she forgotten that she’s the same lady in this picture – http://www.theouthousers.com/forum/the-asylum/katy-perry-topless-for-esquire-t45199.html

      I have no problem with what other adult women do with their bodies but this trick has put herself on some sort of pedestal. Katy’s sexuality is the only “card” she has, she’s a poor vocalist and performer, coming from Adele, this would be perfectly fine but Katy “squirt foam from my titties” Perry, no thanks, she needs to have a whole row of seats.

      • Cary says:

        I saw her perform live at an Obama fundraiser and she’s not a a poor vocalist or performer. Not my cup of tea and I much preferred seeing Stevie Wonder at the same concert, but she does have talent.

      • Dani2 says:

        @Cary well to each their own but I’ve seen her twice in concert and watched numerous youtube videos when I was a fan, she’s got a good team behind her as well as super dedicated fans but she is in my opinion, a poor performer.

      • mystified says:

        But in Perry’s defense, that photo shoot wasn’t shot by Terry Richardson.

    • Thinker says:

      And, truth be told the ONLY Popstar who hasn’t done the sexy/naked thing is…. Wait for it….
      …Taylor Swift!

      That’s little factoid has gotta be over Katy’s head, I highly doubt she’d speak about Dear John Mayer’s ex with such praise.

      • NoU says:

        That’s because Taylor keeps her dirty deeds behind closed doors. Yeah, she’s been through a few guys, but I’d rather hear stories about her hooking up with so-and-so and writing songs about them than to see her showing herself to the public the way so-and-so-who-we-all-know-everyone-is-talking-about is doing it.

      • cs says:

        @thinker
        Taylor is the only top female artist in the US that doesn’t strip. And where does it get them as far as Album sales? Miley’s opening week, 270K, Katy’s new album projected to do 290K first week, I believe Rihanna’s last album was around those same numbers.

        Taylor, 1.2 million. She outsells the male artists. Adele sold 10 million albums in the US alone.

  2. Anna says:

    Reminds me of that Miley interview half a year ago where she says that a real star doesnt need to get naked to be a star – and promptly got naked and became the biggest pop star of the year.

    But at least she was preachy before her change of heart/mind/attitude, not after. Sorry, Katie, we’ve got all the rebuttal evidence we need.

  3. Zbornak Syndrome says:

    She jelly cuz Miley stole her MTV award performance spotlight?

    • Tapioca says:

      I believe they’re both performing at the European VMAs so we shall see who upstages who!

      KP doesn’t really seem all that threatened by the success of other female artists, unlike, say, Lady Gaga, so she was probably laughing as hard as the rest of us at the tuneless car crash…

  4. CT says:

    But after seeing that cover, she has no issue with being Photoshopped. When did she turn into a giraffe?

  5. neelyo says:

    I’ve ignored her for years and finally listened to what some critic called her best album, TEENAGE DREAM. The songs bounced back and forth lyrically from ‘oops my top fell and i don’t care’ to ‘you’re a special little rainbow no matter what’. Don’t worry Katy, you’re no role model, you’re an idiot.

  6. Hello Catty says:

    I think she’s ok. She’s alot smarter than she appears.

    • Belle Epoch says:

      I wish I could agree with you. I think she is dumb as a box of rocks with an insatiable ego that is like a wormhole through the universe. By the time you finish reading all her BS, she is the most important pop star in the world, she never has to use her sexuality, and Russell Brand is a jerk. Not long ago she was unknown except for her boobs (even on Sesame Street!) and Russell Brand was genuinely making a go of monogamy with her.

      Delusional harpy.

    • Emily C. says:

      Why do you think she’s smarter than she appears? I’ve never seen evidence of her being smart. I have seen a whole lot of evidence of her being rather stupid, careless, thoughtlessly cruel, purposefully cruel, and now I can add “judgmental hypocrite” to that pile.

    • littlestar says:

      I have to disagree with that. Her responses to interviewers questions are very basic and canned. She doesn’t have an original thought in her head. Just like she can’t write her own songs, but has a team of songwriters to do it for her.

  7. PrairieGirl says:

    Spare me. You don’t have to take your clothes off when you have actual talent. See: Adele.

    • Spooks says:

      Or any rock musician, really.

    • mabooski says:

      How much or little a person wears has no bearing on how good they are as an artist. SEE: Tina Turner

      Its the sanctimony that really gets me, like girl BYE. Katy, you TRIED it.

  8. Nono says:

    “And I know I have that sexy card in my deck but I don’t always have to use that card.”

    Wow, SO full it.

    Does she actually think she is fooling anyone?

  9. Eleonor says:

    That’s because we’ve just seen her boobs.
    Katy Perry, Rihanna and Miley will never be in the Adele or Celine Dion league.

  10. Paige says:

    This is a joke right. She gets naked as much as any other pop tart. Blasphemy. She’s butt ass naked on her album cover. Save it for someone that will listen Katy.

  11. Darbie says:

    I think a lot of this comes from dating John. He dates women who aren’t known for intelligence and pushes them to act more so.

    It would be refreshing if she actually spoke more intelligently. To me, it sounds like she’s BSing us with all of the times she says, “I mean,” and “kind of.” That’s the language of a flustered person out of her comfort zone. If she isn’t speaking in pushing sexual boundaries, she’s lost.

  12. Lindy79 says:

    *waits for her to say the reason she used to get naked and shoot foam out of her bra/wear cupcake bras is all Russell Brand’s fault*

  13. GeeMoney says:

    Pot, meet kettle.

  14. Jade says:

    It’s so blatantly hypocritical of her to say that to the point where we don’t even have to say anything but laugh.

  15. glaugh says:

    her music is the worst. THE. WORST.

    and you were buck naked on your last album cover no? sit down.

  16. ZAK says:

    If you look up hypocrite in the dictionary a picture of Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream album cover is there. I’m actually starting to dislike Perry more and more.

  17. lucy2 says:

    I think this is purely her trying to cash in on the reaction to Miley, and present herself as the “better” alternative who doesn’t need to stoop to such antics. Even though she has all along.

  18. tifzlan says:

    I only have to sing about faux lesbianism, seeing someone’s “peacock”, shoot whipped cream out of my boobs and wear clothes/costumes/props to strategically display my best assets while not actually being naked.

    Shove it, girl. You’re not fooling anyone.

  19. AlmondJoy says:

    No, you jusr have to squirt whipped cream out of your boobs and pretend to be a lesbian to get noticed. Good for you, Katy!

  20. Greata says:

    Silly self-important creature!

  21. AlmondJoy says:

    @Tifzlan jinx!! Dang it! We had the same idea lol.. should have read your comment before I posted mine.

  22. Garrett says:

    This girl. Just sit down. What a hypocrite.

  23. Not says:

    Why via the MEDIA, why doesnt she just TEXT her pall Rihanna?Hooking up with uber DOUCHE BAG JM, doesnt get her in the spotlight either.What a girl to do?

  24. Rabia says:

    I think she’s saying that she went through her naked phase and she’s not interested in doing that anymore. Been there, done that. I don’t think that’s hypocritical.

    But her music irritates me to no end. Especially that Roar.

    • menlisa says:

      I kinda understand what you are saying, but just because she has been there done that doesn’t mean she gets to go around and reprimand other singers for not being in the same place she is currently.
      If a starlet was to show off their body it’s their decision.
      No one ever complains when men pose topless.
      She just comes across as really judgemental and it’s off-putting

    • Dani2 says:

      It would have been totally fine if she’d said: “I’m done with that phase, I don’t feel like I have to take my clothes off to get noticed anymore”, instead she said, “I’m not talking about anyone in particular. I’m talking about all of them. I mean, it’s like everybody’s so naked. It’s like put it away.” She’s knocking the very thing that she did (and is famous for doing). Dumb as hell when the photographic evidence is plastered all over the internet.

    • Nono says:

      But she hasn’t been there, done that, Rabia. She’s still cavorting around all vixen-like in her latest video. There’s nothing wrong with that, but let’s not prevaricate about what she’s up to- that’s insulting to everyone’s intelligence. She must think we’re four years old.

  25. dcypher1 says:

    Katy is such an annoying hypocrite. Her music is beyond irritating its torture.

  26. poppy says:

    wasn’t “roar” written with dr. luke? the same doofus that writes for brittney, miley cyrus, kesha (all the brilliants) -the one that helped create “i kissed a girl”? the guy that sort of lifts other people’s songs and reworks them? the guy that writes songs that easily lend to near nudity in the accompanying music video?
    roar has soooo much personal meaning. so deep.
    yeah, besides being one of those pick-and-choose “christians” that is too good to get nekkid, she writes her own songs.
    :noggin:

  27. Jayna says:

    Okay. She doesn’t swing on a wrecking ball nude but with her bits covered. She doesn’t do the VMAs in a G string like Gaga showing her complete ass. She doesn’t sing a song on stage and strip down to full nudity frontal and all like Gaga just did the other day at a live event, which is probably the lowest point of Gaga’s career, I have to say. Complete nudity why? BUT she shows her boobs at every opportunity in tight, plunging costumes. So sit down, Katy. Adele can make those kinds of comments. You just stick your foot in your mouth.

    • Nono says:

      It’s not really even about the amount of skin you show- although she does show plenty of it. One can be very sexy without being naked. She’s saying she doesn’t use sex to sell albums? Her entire persona is concocted around the concept “bombshell”. What is a bombshell but the female personification of heterosexual male desire?

  28. nemo says:

    yeah, she’s full of BS.

  29. kingkayski says:

    She really need to put it away,coz without all that bucket of make up,she looks older than her age,she could pass for Mileys mom,there’s a reason why she always cover her face when she get off the plane ,my guessed is the same reason as Russell Brand

  30. Emily C. says:

    What a colossal hypocrite. I’ve disliked her ever since she stumbled around publicly drunk at an awards show in front of her recovering-addict husband, but this takes the cake. Slut-shaming other women for what she did herself. Isn’t she special.

    Her voice sucks, her songs blow, and she’s got the brain of a drug-addled Pomeranian. When I was a teenager, the alternative hit “I Kissed A Girl” was about actual really-truly lesbianism, not this faux stuff to entice men. She disgusts me.

    • Veruca says:

      On behalf of drug-addled Pomeranians, I take offense.

      They’re far more entertaining than Perry/Hudson/ex-Brand.

  31. BeefJerky says:

    ARE PEOPLE NOT ALLOWED TO EVOLVE?? You all are citing things she’s done the past- and she’s talking about how she feels now. Let’s all reflect on how we were at 23 versus how we act and dress now, ok?

    • S says:

      This! I’m 29 now, and compared to how I dressed even 2 and 3 years ago, I’m more conservative and “settled”. People evolve. I don’t think it’s hypocritical at all.

      People praise Angelina Jolie for her evolution from a blood vial wearing, brother kissing rebel to a Mother Teresa- Saint. And while I obviously wouldn’t compare Katy’s decision to start being a little more modest to Angelina’s transformation, I don’t think we should go straight to “HYPOCRITE!” every time someone makes a step toward personal evolution.

    • Nono says:

      ” You all are citing things she’s done the past”

      How about what she’s doing now? Have you seen the music video for “Roar” yet?

    • bluhare says:

      People should evolve; totally agree with you. All she needed to do was add one little word. NOW. But she didn’t, so not only did it sound judgmental, but hypocritical as well.

  32. Lucy says:

    Katy: You’re dumb. Shut the f*ck up for a while, go read a book or two, then you can come back. -Xo.

  33. Timber says:

    I don’t see any naked pictures of her, unlike Miley and Gaga.

    • Zoid says:

      Did you miss her last album cover? She’s posing naked on top of a cloud. She also posed topless for Esquire.

  34. Dragonlady sakura says:

    HILARIOUS! I give her props for saying this with a straight face. So I guess she’s just wearing turtle necks from now on, huh ?

  35. mimi says:

    Oh dear, it sounds like another case of “do as I say, not as I do” from someone who built her career on posing nude and flaunting her breasts every chance that presented itself. How can she keep a straight face while criticizing others with her whipped cream shooting breasts and completely nude album cover image used to promote her music?

  36. bettyrose says:

    I’m not familiar with her music, but she is very pretty in a much more old school glamour sort of way than some other pop stars of late.

  37. Meggin says:

    She has to be kidding…. The whole reason she got famous is for a song called “I kissed a girl”. She is all about sex appeal and getting naked. Hypocrite much? For some reason she annoys me and I don’t like her music.

  38. Holden says:

    Pot, meet kettle you raving hypocrite.

  39. Brittaki says:

    Katy better stock up on toilet paper, because she is seriously full of crap.

  40. Sunny says:

    I’m pretty sure she got naked/topless multiple times… for a music video and some magazines..shes being hypocritical.

  41. Dommy Dearest says:

    Hypocrite.
    Looks like her management is seeing the backlash against Miley and getting Katy to cover it and up tone down. Laughing, all the laughing.

  42. Tiffany :) says:

    I’ll edit her comment to make it true: “I [WISH I DIDN’T] have to get naked to be noticed”.

    I agree that she is being a hypocrite here and trying to paint herself as a special snowflake who doesn’t have to do what everyone (including her) has done…but what I REALLY disliked about her whole Teenage Dream naked-promo thing was that it was totally aimed at children. The Candyland video, the video for Last Friday Night, etc. Totally adolescent and creepy. Selling sex to kids is easy, it will make you money, but it isn’t very respectable.

  43. JFS61 says:

    So “Roar” is her equivalent to Lennon’s “Plastic Ono Band.” Got it – Just another poor, tortured, misunderstood artist in need of catharsis.

    Just shut up and pose for Playboy already.

  44. dread pirate cuervo says:

    Does she have amnesia?

  45. Emma13 says:

    “Says the girl who — just five years ago — stroked a kitty while singing about getting it on with another girl. ”

    Omg, I just got why the cat was there.

  46. Leila in Wunderland says:

    I’ve always felt that the only thing she has going for her is her fashion. And she’s pretty. I hate most of her music (except for that alien song) and I don’t see why she’s so popular. Remember when she threw shade at Gaga for mixing sex and religion? I think she (like Taylor Swift and others) enjoys elevating herself over other female artists in a negative way.

  47. Sha says:

    Sorry, but exactly to who is she an inspiration to? … Katy still a newbie in the business and she has never been top good at anything, dancing singing or whatever, and all her songs sound the same. She flashes her boobs everywhere and bangs John ‘I’m-the-biggest-douchebag’ Mayer. That’s it.