Pop singer Katy Perry posted a picture on Instagram Monday showing her casting a ballot for Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso.
“I am voting for a myriad of reasons (see the news) but in particular because Los Angeles is a hot mess atm. #letsgocaruso #yestomeasure28 #yestomeasure1 #doyoubutjustuseyourvoteok,” Perry wrote in a caption on the photo of her casting a ballot.
The post provoked a backlash amongst many of her fans who condemned Perry for turning her back on her outspoken commitment to progressivism by voting against Caruso’s Democratic opponent, Representative Karen Bass.
Caruso is well to the right of Bass and was a member of the Republican Party until 2019. He is a real-estate billionaire who has pledged to prioritize combatting rampant homelessness and skyrocketing violent crime in Los Angeles. The current mayor, Democrat Eric Garcetti, is term-limited.
Caruso’s previous position on abortion has led many fans to condemn Perry as a hypocrite. However, since June 2022, Perry has supported him on Twitter writing: “RICK CARUSO FTW!”
“Katy, thank you for your support. One day, I hope to be able to serve all Angelenos,” Caruso responded on Twitter.
Perry has been an outspoken supporter of LGBT issues throughout her public career. Her hit song “I Kissed a Girl” turned her into a “gay icon” for the community. A lifelong Democrat, Perry has supported Barack Obama and Joe Biden, asking her fans on social media to do the same.
Throughout Hilary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, Perry repeatedly performed for the Democratic candidate.
Perry joined the growing ranks of other Hollywood celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, Snoop Dogg, and Chris Pratt in backing Caruso’s mayoral bid. The latter similarly endorsed Caruso on Instagram Saturday.
“I’ve lived in LA for over 20 years. It’s been great to me… In that time I’ve seen what many residents here have seen, the city’s gradual decline into pain and utter disarray. If you live here, you know exactly what I’m talking about. I don’t normally support political candidates. But in this election, there’s too much to lose,” Pratt wrote.
Bass has received similar endorsements and fundraising from, among others, Jennifer Aniston, Steven Spielberg, Samuel L. Jackson, John Legend, Natalie Portman, and Barack Obama.
While Bass started the race as an early favorite, Caruso has significantly closed the gap in recent weeks with massive advertising initiatives. The latest polling suggests Bass is a slight favorite.