Katy Perry Addresses Being the ‘Most Hated Person on the Internet’ Onstage

Katy Perry is speaking out about the internet’s hot and cold feelings about her.

On Monday, May 12, during her Lifetimes Tour show in Chicago, the “Teenage Dream” singer addressed the backlash she’s received online, seemingly stemming back to her participation in Jeff Bezo‘s Blue Origin flight in April.

At one point during the show, according to a fan video, Perry, 40, reacted to the crowd cheering for her for an extended period of time. “Well, I thought I was the most hated person on the internet,” she said.

“I think that’s false,” Perry continued while the audience continued to praise her.

Weeks earlier, Perry — along with Gayle King, Lauren Sánchez, activist Amanda Nguyen, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and film producer Kerianne Flynn — took an 11-minute flight into space courtesy of Blue Origin.

During the flight, Perry sang a few lines of “What a Wonderful World” while they floating in zero gravity. Upon landing, Perry kissed the ground while her fiancé Orlando Bloom and their daughter Daisy watched.

She also posted about the experience on Instagram. “One day when you’re older, will YOU still look up in wonder?” Perry began.

“Still processing this incredible journey ✨ Thank you @blueorigin and to my space sisters, taking up space AND making room in space for all – 143. See you on tour (when I come down, figuratively).”

The Blue Origin flight, which costs millions of dollars, didn’t come without criticism and negative comments.

Perry posted about the online commentary on Instagram on April 29. “Please know I am ok, I have done a lot work around knowing who I am, what is real and what is important to me,” she said in the comments of a fan video.

“My therapist said something years ago that has been a game changer, ‘no one can make you believe something about yourself that you don’t already believe about yourself’ and if I ever do have any feelings about it then it’s an opportunity to investigate the feeling underneath it.”

She continued: “When the ‘online’ world tries to make me a human Piñata, I take it with grace and send them love, cause I know so many people are hurting in so many ways and the internet is very much so a dumping ground for unhinged and unhealed.”

Perry kicked off her Lifetimes Tour in Mexico on April 23. During the first concert, Perry showed off some outer-space-inspired costumes and dance moves. She also made a saucy comment that some interpreted to be about her going to space.

“Has anyone ever called your dreams crazy?” she asked the crowd at one point.

The “California Gurls” singer performs three more concerts stateside before heading to Australia in June. She then returns to North America for shows throughout July and August before heading to South America, Europe and the U.K.