Katy Perry’s latest music video has caused her some trouble with Spanish authorities. It appears that the singer and her team filmed in the protected nature reserves of the Balearic Islands without obtaining the necessary permits.
The video for Perry’s new summer release, “Lifetimes,” has garnered over 2 million views on YouTube. It features scenes of Perry dancing at various beaches, towns, and vibrant nightclubs across the Balearic Islands.
While many fans are excited about Perry’s return after a four-year hiatus, the Spanish authorities have not welcomed the video as positively. According to the Spanish newspaper El País, the Ministry of the Environment in the Balearic government has initiated an investigation into Perry’s activities.
The issue isn’t related to Perry riding a motorcycle without a helmet in the video, but rather to the alleged unauthorized filming in a nature reserve. The video was shot on the islands of Ibiza, Formentera, and S’Espalmador, which is situated north of Formentera.
The American production company should have secured the required filming permits, particularly for shooting in the protected Ses Salines nature reserve on Formentera, as noted by the Spanish environmental agency.
During the video shoot, Perry and her team reportedly filmed in a protected area without permission. In one scene, Perry dances in a bikini over the dunes of S’Espalmador, which are actually roped off to protect them.
The dunes are considered one of the “best-preserved Mediterranean jewels” in the Balearic Islands, valued for their “high ecological value” and their role in maintaining brackish water lagoons, according to the Spanish government’s tourism website.
Authorities have clarified that while the incident is being investigated, it is not categorized as an “environmental crime” but rather an administrative offense. Preliminary investigations are already underway.