Katy Perry's Tour Rider Scandal Proves She's Been One Of The Most Difficult Artists Working Today (2024)

Katy Perry is undeniably one of the biggest pop stars in the world. However, her tour riders prove she has diva-like behaviors and can be hard to work with. Perry has worked with several artists throughout her music career, and they have had a lot to say about her as a person, and most of them haven’t been good things. Sia said she quit one hour into their collaboration on a song because Perry was quite dominant and extremely analytical.

Perry is no different regarding how she treats her employees and crew. The “Harleys in Hawaii” singer reportedly asked staff and crew not to speak to her, stare at her or ask for photographs around her. In this article, we will look at Katy Perry’s outrageous tour rider demands and why people think she is so difficult to work with.

Katy Perry's Crazy Demands Revealed During Her Las Vegas Tour Rider

During Katy Perry’s 2011 world tour, she provided a 45-page tour rider to her promoter with a list of demands. Perry's demands for her dressing room included a full-length mirror, a refrigerator with a glass door, an arrangement of pink, white, and purple hydrangea, pink and white roses, and peonies. Perry added that if these flowers were unavailable, a selection of seasonal white flowers would be acceptable, but absolutely no carnations.

Also, her dressing room should be draped in cream or soft pink and have high-speed internet. Katy demanded two comfortable egg chairs and one footstool in cream to match the room's color. She also required two French animate-style floor lamps in her room.

Perry demanded fresh food to be set up in her dressing room no later than 2 hours before her sound check.

She also demanded water dispensers in all her dressing rooms and a bowl of fresh organic fruits like apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes. She also asked for two bottles of wine: Santa Margarita and Pinot Grigio, because she no longer goes clubbing and drinking to relieve stress after her shows. Her food also had to be eaten with chinaware and silverware. Perry demanded only ceramic tea mugs and glasses with plastic straws for her drinks.

Seeing as Katy Perry is one of the highest-paid celebrities on the planet, she didn’t want to stay at any hotel during her tour; it had to be a 5-star property. She asked for a presidential suite, with the rest of the rooms on the same floor booked for her entourage. The superstar also demanded a complementary breakfast for her team and touring party.

Katy Perry Had Strict Rules For Her Drivers To Follow While Working With Her.

In her tour rider, Katy Perry also included strict rules for the drivers who were expected to drive her around. For one, the singer required her driver to always stay behind the wheel and not go anywhere. If they were to leave to use the restroom, they would have to notify Katy first before going. Perry also demanded to have little to no contact with her drivers, who she assumed must be fans of hers.

In the rider, Perry demanded the driver not start a conversation with her, her guests, or her fans. According to the “I Kissed A Girl” singer, her driver should only be there to drive and do nothing more. Perry’s driver’s ringtone should also be turned off at all times. They are also not allowed to stare at Perry through the rearview mirror. In addition, the driver must not ask for autographs, pictures, or anything else while on the job.

The driver should also ensure their window is ½ way down at every pick-up and drop-off point. The driver is also not allowed to touch any of Katy’s bags or luggage unless asked to do so. Plus, make sure there are four water bottles in the car available for Perry if she gets thirsty. One of Perry's only reasonable demands of her drivers was asking them not to make any phone calls while driving because it might put them both in danger.

Katty Perry’s Diva-Like Behavior To Her Staff Is Frowned Upon In Hollywood

Considering how hard it would be for the staff to carry out all Katy's demands while on tour, she clearly had little regard for them when she made her requests. Perry has come under fire over the years for her diva behavior, including when she got slammed for being rude to American Idol contestants during her time as a judge. An industry insider told the DailyStar that Katy’s tour rider demands surprised them since she always seemed so humble on TV, but backstage, she behaves just like a diva.

Many fans believed Perry’s nasty behavior towards her staff was also why she came out to defend Ellen DeGeneres when the daytime talk show host faced backlash for creating a toxic work environment. Perry and Ellen have both been plagued with rumors for years that they do not allow staff to look at them directly in the eyes.

Australian TV executive Neil Breen said that when he met Ellen, her team told him he was not allowed to look or speak to her, no matter what, similar to what Perry’s team is doing for her. Even her staff, who were allowed to speak to her, were always walking on eggshells around her. “Now Neil, no one is to talk to Ellen. You don't talk to her, you don't approach her, you don't look at her.”