Katy Perry is turning to music after upheaval in her personal life.
The pop star, 41, dropped her powerful new song, “Bandaids,” and its self-deprecating music video on Thursday, November 6, marking her first release since her split from ex-fiancé Orlando Bloom.
In the video, a down-on-her-luck Perry finds herself in a series of near-death situations. It begins with the singer washing dishes (a nod to her viral “Call Her Daddy” comment last year about Bloom getting his “d*** sucked” whenever he did chores) when her ring suddenly falls down the drain. As Perry sticks her hand in the sink to retrieve the gold band, she accidentally turns on the garbage disposal, leaving her bloodied and screaming.
As the visual progresses, Perry’s misfortune only gets worse: Her shoelace gets caught in the escalator at a shopping mall, causing her to face-plant; the lid comes off her coffee cup while she’s driving, spilling all over her lap and burning her; and she sinks into quicksand after narrowly avoiding an oncoming train.
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The video is filled with Easter eggs, from a daisy growing in the middle of the train tracks (Perry and Bloom’s 5-year-old daughter is named Daisy) to the Grammy nominee’s 2024 single “Woman’s World” playing before a gas station explosion in the final scene, signaling the end of her 143 era and the beginning of another.
“Bandaids” features candid lyrics about Perry’s “broken heart” that offer a glimpse into her mindset after her breakup. She sings in the first verse, “Hand to God, I promise I tried / There’s no stone left unturned / It’s not what you did / It’s what you didn’t / You were there, but you weren’t.”
Later, Perry references Daisy as one of the positive things that came out of the relationship, singing, “If I had to do it all over again / I would still do it all over again / The love that we made was worth it in the end.”
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The release comes after several major changes in Perry’s personal life. Us Weekly confirmed her separation from Bloom, 48, in June after nearly 10 years together. A source revealed at the time that it was “a long time coming,” as things between the now-exes had “been tense for months.”
Nonetheless, Perry and Bloom remain cordial as they moved forward with their focus on their daughter.
“They are still very much in touch and coparenting Daisy together,” an insider told Us in June. “It’s not messy between them.”
The source noted that Perry and Bloom were “prioritizing stability and consistency for Daisy” as the family adapted to their new normal.
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In the aftermath of the split, the Pirates of the Caribbean star emphasized his healthy coparenting dynamic with his ex.
“I’m so grateful. We have the most beautiful daughter,” he said on the Today show in September. “You know, when you leave everything on the field, like I did in [the movie The Cut], I feel grateful for all of it.”
He added, “We’re great. We’re going to be great. It’s nothing but love.”
After her breakup from Bloom, Perry moved on with former Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau, to whom she has been linked since July. At the time, the pair — who “have a few mutuals in the music industry” — were spotted on a “casual” dinner date in Canada after being “in touch for the last month,” according to a source.
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Although Perry does not “have a lot of extra time” at the moment due to her ongoing Lifetimes Tour, the insider told Us, “This is all new to her, as she hasn’t dated in so many years, and it’s been exciting to put herself out there again. … Katy is excited to move on but isn’t looking for anything serious.”
In October, a source revealed that Perry and Trudeau, 53, are staying under the radar while pursuing their connection.
“Katy is really into it. She’s very happy,” the insider told Us. “She’s trying to keep it low-key, and they’ve spent a lot of private time together. She’s not looking to publicize this relationship.”
