Katy Perry says reaction to ‘Witness’ gave her ’bouts of situational depression’

“The public didn’t react in the way I had expected to, which broke my heart”

Katy Perry has said that she suffered from “bouts of situational depression” following the release of her latest album ‘Witness’.

The pop star released her fifth studio effort last year. It featured the singles ‘Chained to the Rhythm’, ‘Swish Swish’ and ‘Hey Hey Hey’.

Over a year after its release, Perry has discussed how the reaction to the LP affected her mental health. “I have had bouts of situational depression and my heart was broken last year because, unknowingly, I put so much validity in the reaction of the public, and the public didn’t react in the way I had expected to … which broke my heart,” Perry told Vogue Australia.

“Music is my first love and I think it was the universe saying: ‘Okay, you speak all of this language about self-love and authenticity, but we are going to put you through another test and take away any kind of validating “blankie”. Then we’ll see how much you do truly love yourself.’”

The singer attended a week-long program at a personal growth retreat in January. The Hoffman Institute, based in California, states on its website that they help “participants identify negative behaviours, moods and ways of thinking that developed unconsciously and were conditioned in childhood”.

Perry previously opened up about her mental health struggles during a livestream promotion for ‘Witness’. During the Big Brother-style broadcast, the singer was filmed taking part in an emotional therapy session.

“I wrote a song about [suicide],” said Perry. “I feel ashamed that I would have those thoughts, feel that low and that depressed.

“You can be right or you can be loved. I just want to be loved.”

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