Katy Perry Video Crew Received ‘Verbal Approval’ for ‘Lifetimes’ Video Shoot on Environmentally Protected Spanish Beach

Katy Perry’s video crew had received “verbal approval” to film the singer’s “Lifetimes” clips on an environmentally protected beach in Spain, a rep for the singer’s label said late Wednesday after news broke that the crew was being investigated for allegedly failing to receive proper authorization for the shoot. When announcing the investigation, the Environmental Department of the Balearic Islands in Spain had said that the shoot did not constitute a “crime against the environment,” but rather that full authorization had not been obtained.

“The local video production company assured us that all necessary permits for the video were secured,” a Capitol Records spokesperson tells Variety. “We have since learned that one permit was in process, although we were given verbal authority to go ahead.”

“Our local crew on July 22 applied for a permit for this specific location with the Directorate-General for Coasts and Coastline,” the rep continued. “Our crew received verbal approval on July 26 to proceed with the filming on July 27. We adhered to all regulations associated with filming in this area and have the utmost respect for this location and the officials tasked with protecting it.”

The controversy was just the latest in the snafu-plagued launch of Perry’s upcoming album “143,” which is due on Sept. 20. The singer, who has not released an album in four years, is aiming straight for the pop market she’d dominated for much of the 2010s, although there have been controversies at every turn. The video for her lead single “Woman’s World” was criticized for depicting cliché feminist stereotypes that Perry later said it was intending to parody; it did not help that the single was produced by her longtime collaborator Dr. Luke, who was accused of sexual misconduct by his former protégé Kesha, although he maintained his innocence throughout the entire decade-long legal proceedings and the case was ultimately settled with no admission of guilt.