It was 2017, and the world was already feeling a little bit frantic. Katy Perry, the queen of candy-coated pop perfection, decided to drop something that felt like a sharp left turn. Bon Appétit by Katy Perry arrived during the Witness era, and honestly, it felt like a fever dream. People didn't know whether to dance or feel slightly nauseous. That's the thing about this track—it’s deceptively simple on the surface but incredibly dark once you peel back the skin.
Listen.
The song features Migos, who were absolutely everywhere at the time, but the real star was the metaphor. Perry wasn't just singing about dinner. She was singing about being the dinner. It’s a literalization of the way the entertainment industry treats women as products to be consumed, seasoned, and eventually discarded.
The Recipe Behind the Song
Production-wise, it’s a slick piece of work. Max Martin, Shellback, and Oscar Holter brought that crisp, synth-heavy "dark-pop" sound that defined a lot of 2017. It isn't the bubblegum "Teenage Dream" Katy. It’s a more mechanical, almost industrial vibe. The bassline is driving and repetitive, which mirrors the assembly-line nature of the lyrics.
When Migos hops on the track, the energy shifts. Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff bring that signature Atlanta trap flow that, at the time, was the golden ticket for any pop star looking for a radio hit. But looking back, their inclusion is almost ironic. They’re playing the role of the diners, the ones waiting for the "five-star" meal.
People often forget how much backlash Perry faced during this period. She was moving away from the "California Gurls" persona and into "Purposeful Pop." While some fans loved the change, others were confused. Bon Appétit by Katy Perry sat right in the middle of that identity crisis. It was a club banger with a political undertone that some people missed because they were too distracted by the sight of her being tossed in flour.
That Music Video: A Visual Nightmare (In a Good Way)
We have to talk about the video. Directed by Dent De Cuir, it is genuinely unsettling.
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First, we see Katy wrapped in plastic. Then, a group of chefs starts kneading her like dough. It’s tactile. It’s gross. It’s fascinating. They throw vegetables on her. They boil her in a giant pot. It’s an extreme take on the "male gaze." If the world wants her to be a "snack," she’s going to show them exactly what that looks like in the most literal, grotesque way possible.
There is one specific moment that always sticks out.
The chefs are stretching her skin and massaging her limbs. It’s meant to look like food prep, but it feels like a violation. That’s the point. It’s a commentary on the loss of autonomy. When you're a pop star of her magnitude, you aren't a person anymore; you're a brand, a menu item, a thing to be tasted and then reviewed.
The Twist Ending You Probably Forgot
Most people remember the cooking, but the ending is where the "Purposeful Pop" actually kicks in. Suddenly, the tables turn. Katy isn't the meal anymore; she’s the one at the table. The chefs are served. The Migos guys are there. It’s a revenge fantasy that flips the script on the consumer.
It’s kinda brilliant, honestly.
By the end of the video, Perry is eating a cherry pie that contains... well, let's just say it's not just fruit. It's a "Sweeney Todd" moment for the 21st century. It suggests that if you try to consume someone entirely, they might just bite back.
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Why It Still Matters in 2026
You might wonder why we're still talking about a song from nearly a decade ago.
The truth is, the conversation around artist exploitation hasn't gone away. If anything, it's gotten louder. Since 2017, we've seen the "Free Britney" movement, the Taylor Swift re-recordings, and a massive shift in how we view the "pop star machine." Bon Appétit by Katy Perry was one of the first big-budget attempts to call out that machine from the inside while it was still running.
It wasn't a universal success. It didn't hit Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100—it actually peaked at 59. Critics were split. Some called it desperate; others called it misunderstood. But in the age of TikTok and short-form viral moments, the imagery from this video lives on. It was "weird" before "weird" was the standard for high-fashion pop.
Breaking Down the Lyrics
The lyrics are heavy on the double entendres. You've got lines like "Looks like you've been starving" and "Got me spread like a buffet."
- The "Five-Star" Metaphor: She's positioning herself as high-end, exclusive, and expensive.
- The "Appetite" Theme: It’s about more than just hunger; it’s about the insatiable demand of the public.
- The Migos Verse: They lean into the luxury aspect, rapping about diamonds and high-end living, which contrasts with the gritty, "raw" feel of the cooking imagery.
It’s a bit on the nose, sure. Perry has never been known for subtlety. But in pop music, subtlety is often the enemy of a clear message. She wanted people to get it, even if they were just vibing to the beat in a club.
The Cultural Impact and "Witness"
This song was a cornerstone of the Witness album cycle. This was the era of the 72-hour live stream where Katy lived in a house full of cameras. She was trying to be "authentic" at a time when the word was becoming a marketing buzzword. Bon Appétit by Katy Perry was the peak of that effort. It was a performance piece disguised as a pop song.
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Honestly, the song probably would have fared better if it were released today. We’re much more accustomed to pop stars being "meta" and self-aware. Back then, it felt like she was trying too hard. Now, it looks like she was just ahead of the curve in terms of visual storytelling.
Misconceptions About the Track
A lot of people think the song was just a failed attempt at a "Bad Blood" style hit. That’s not quite right. While every artist wants a hit, the Witness era was specifically about deconstructing the "Katy Perry" brand. If the song feels uncomfortable, it’s because it’s supposed to. It’s not meant to be "Teenage Dream" part two. It’s meant to be the hangover after the dream.
Another misconception is that the collaboration with Migos was purely for "clout." While there’s always a business element to these things, the contrast between their style and hers was a deliberate choice to bridge the gap between pop and the then-dominant trap scene. It was a snapshot of where the music industry was heading.
Actionable Insights for the Pop Obsessed
If you're revisiting this track or studying pop culture history, there are a few things to keep in mind to really "get" what was happening here.
- Watch the video without the sound. Seriously. The visual storytelling tells a completely different, much darker story than the audio alone. Notice the color palette—it shifts from sterile, cold blues to warm, fleshy tones.
- Listen to the lyrics through the lens of the "Witness" live stream. Think about Katy being watched 24/7. Suddenly, the "consumption" theme makes a lot more sense.
- Compare it to her later work. Look at Smile or her recent 2024/2025 releases. You can see how the experimentation of "Bon Appétit" led her to a more balanced place where she could play with these themes without losing the "pop" hook.
- Check the credits. Beyond Max Martin, look at the choreographers and set designers. The technical skill required to pull off that "flour and dough" sequence is insane. It took hours of practical effects, not just CGI.
Bon Appétit by Katy Perry remains a fascinating case study in what happens when a global superstar tries to bite the hand that feeds them—literally. It’s a song about power, control, and the price of being the world's favorite dish. Whether you love the song or find it cringey, you can't deny that it left a mark on the landscape of modern pop visuals. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most interesting art is the stuff that makes us feel a little bit uncomfortable.