Katy Perry investigated for damaging Spanish sand dunes

The Spanish government may not love Katy Perry for life…lifetimes.

The singer shot the video for “Lifetimes,” the second single from her upcoming album 143, on S’Espalmador, a tiny island east of Spain and just south of Ibiza in the Mediterranean Sea. The Environment Department of the Balearic Islands is now alleging that Perry’s production company, WeOwnTheCity, did not secure the proper authorization before staging the shoot and may have damaged a protected strip of ecologically important sand dunes.

A statement issued on Aug. 13 by the Government of the Balearic Islands stated that a preliminary investigation into the unauthorized shoot has been initiated. The statement further explains that, while at no point did Perry’s production company request the necessary permissions for the shoot, the case is not being considered for the charge of “delicte contra el medi ambient” or a “crime against the environment.”

A rep for Perry did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly‘s request for comment.

The dunes in question are part of a protected zone of the Pityusic Islands called Ses Salines Natural Park, which provides a vital nesting area for migratory birds and supports crucial ecological and marine habitats.

The video for the Dr. Luke–produced track was directed by prolific music video director Stillz under the banner of the production company WeOwnTheCity. It portrays Perry having the tropical vacation of a lifetime — or lifetimes — that includes cave dancing, bounce-house napping, motorcycle riding, pizza slinging during a DJ set, and, most relevant to the allegations, dune-cavorting.

The legal news comes on the heels of a bumpy album rollout for Perry. The music video for lead single “Woman’s World” has been criticized for contrasting with the meaning of the song. Abigail Breslin recently defended her comments supporting Kesha, who accused Perry’s longtime songwriter and producer Dr. Luke (a.k.a. Lukasz Gottwald) of a number of crimes including sexual assault and abuse.

“Working with known abusers in any industry just contributes to the narrative that men can do abhorrent s— and get away with it,” Breslin wrote on X.

While the scenes shot on the dunes in the “Lifetimes” video include just Perry, the impact of the camera and sound crew assembled to capture the star in the environment are not yet known.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.‘s free daily newsletter

Perry meanwhile announced she was leaving American Idol after five seasons in February. Earlier this month Carrie Underwood was unveiled as Perry’s official replacement on the judging panel, alongside returning judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.

The singer’s upcoming sixth album, 143, is set to release on Sept. 20, 2024.