Fury has erupted after pop superstar Katy Perry filmed part of a music video in a protected area of Majorca without official permission, prompting local authorities to issue a fine to the production company behind the shoot.
The 40-year-old American singer shot scenes for her single LIFETIMES in Ses Salines Natural Park, a UNESCO-protected site spanning roughly 40,000 acres across the Balearic Islands of Ibiza and Formentera in July last.
According to the Spanish news outlet Majorca Daily Bulletin, the production team entered an area where public access is strictly prohibited to protect sensitive habitats.
Despite the site’s conservation status, no filming permit had been obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment.
Following an investigation, the Balearic government issued a €6,001 (£5,197) fine, classifying the offence as “serious.” The fine was paid promptly, and while officials confirmed there was no lasting damage to the environment, they stressed the need to protect the park’s unique biodiversity.
Ses Salines Natural Park includes some of the most ecologically significant areas in the Balearics, from rugged coastlines to pristine beaches and flatlands. It is an essential habitat for migratory birds and home to one of the best-preserved stretches of Posidonia seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status.
The controversy began last July when Perry was spotted on the dunes of S’Espalmador, a small, privately owned islet north of Formentera, which has been part of the park since 1980.
She was also filmed dancing across other protected sites on Formentera and Ibiza, both of which are popular with tourists but subject to strict environmental regulations.
Local media reported that authorities received no prior application for filming in these locations. The French publication L’Indépendant noted the penalty issued was the minimum for this category of environmental breach.
While the Balearic Islands have long attracted high-profile photo and film shoots, environmental advocates say such activity can threaten fragile ecosystems. The Perry incident has reignited debate about whether stricter rules or higher fines are needed to deter future violations.
S’Espalmador and the nearby Ses Illetes beach are among the most protected natural spaces in Spain, boasting rare habitats that sustain diverse flora and fauna. Authorities have invested decades in preservation efforts, and campaigners warn that unregulated activity risks undoing that progress.
The music video for LIFETIMES was released on August 8, 2024, as part of Perry’s seventh studio album, 143, which dropped the following month. The singer is currently midway through her ambitious 83-date Lifetimes Tour, which launched in April and will conclude in December.
However, the album has not matched the commercial success of her earlier work, and ticket sales for the tour have reportedly been slower than expected. The controversy in Majorca comes just weeks after Perry confirmed her split from British actor Orlando Bloom, 48, ending their engagement.