Katy Perry has spoken candidly about her mental health struggles and the pressures of pleasing her fans in an emotional interview with Vogue Australia.
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The pop star admitted she was hurt by the reaction to some of her artistic ventures in 2017.
"I have had bouts of situational depression and my heart was broken last year," she said.
"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."
In June 2017, she invited cameras to live-stream her life for 72 hours straight from an LA house to promote her album, Witness.
She was also ridiculed for what some tweets called 'cringe-worthy' dance moves on Saturday Night Live alongside rap group Migos.
Perry explained that she decided to spend a week at The Hoffman Institute in January 2017, partaking in a self-growth programme that aims to identify negative behaviours.
"I was ready to let go of anything that was holding me back from being my ultimate self," she said.
The 'Bon Apetit' singer said she watched friends come back from the course 'rejuvenated', and she felt it was time to seek help herself.
"There are a lot of people who are self-medicating through validation in audiences, through substances, through continually running away from their realities denial, withdrawal," she said.
"I did that for a long, long time too."
Perry also touched on her return to spirituality, citing Pope Francis as a "rebel for Jesus" and saying she never left God, despite her Mother's prayers for her to return to him.
The 'Firework' hit-maker will be bringing her Witness Tour to Auckland in August.
Newshub.
