Katy Perry’s got one heck of a voice — and she’s using it to make a difference.
The pop star, who has long been outspoken about her personal views, went from being raised by devout Christian pastors to recording provocative tunes like breakout hit “I Kissed a Girl.” Now the musical firecracker is using her influence — that’s 107 million followers’ worth on Twitter alone — to take a stand on issues from women’s rights and gun reform to religion and politics.
In honor of her recent FN cover, we take a look back at the 33-year-old talent’s biggest political statements in years past.
Marching On
The topic of gun reform was pushed back into the national conversation following the tragic Parkland school shooting that claimed the lives of 17 people on Valentine’s Day. A month later, Perry and a slew of A-listers including Chris Evans and Yara Shahidi took to their online platforms to show solidarity for students participating in the national school walkout and endorse the March for Our Lives movement in support of stricter gun control laws.
“On the one-month anniversary of the Parkland school shooting, students are walking out in protest of Congress’ failure to act on gun violence. Let’s support them, and the March to Washington DC in ten days,” the songstress wrote on Twitter.
Campaigning for Clinton
Perry and former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton share an enviable friendship — one that is rooted not only in similar values, but also mutual admiration.
In her bid for the presidency, the politician hosted rallies, fundraisers and other related events attended by Perry herself. (Conversely, Clinton has posed in Perry’s shoes to promote her eponymous collection.)
In early November, with days to go before the election, the musician even joined Clinton at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, where she helped give the campaign its final push to mobilize supporters in a battleground state.
Performing ahead of a backdrop that read “Love Trumps Hate,” Perry was clad in a blue ensemble with a coat that had the words “I’m with Madam President” embellished across the back.
Despite the result of the presidential election, the two have remained close friends. Clinton even surprised Perry at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball later that year, presenting her with the humanitarian award and exchanging a tight embrace onstage.
Rock the Vote
In a humorous attempt to get citizens to vote on Election Day, Perry teamed up with comedy production site Funny or Die and progressive-aligned nonprofit group Rock the Vote to release a short film that featured a popcorn-covered, disheveled-looking, naked Katy taking to the polls.
“This year, you can look like s— when you vote,” she said in the video. “Yep, I’ve briefly scanned the Constitution, and nowhere does it say you can’t just roll out of bed and come to the polls in whatever state you woke up in. In the name of democracy, any just-out-of-bed look is a-okay.”
Watch it here:
Fashion Forward (Literally)
Call it activist-chic or sartorial patriotism — Katy Perry knows how to dress for the press.
Years before the 2016 presidential election, she appeared before thousands of Democratic supporters at a rally for President Barack Obama at the Delta Center in Milwaukee. It was there that she made one of her most memorable political fashion statements, appearing onstage in a red, white and blue dress that she tossed aside during her performance to reveal another, more provocative number: A body-hugging mini dress with the word “Forward” — both Obama’s campaign slogan and Wisconsin’s state motto — printed across the front.
Say what you will, but there’s no denying that Perry is unapologetically opinionated.
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