Katy Perry music video prompts investigation for filming near protected sand dunes
The production company behind Katy Perry's newest music video is under inves‐ tigation for allegedly filming without permission in ecologically sensitive sand dunes on the Balearic Islands off eastern Spain.
The video for Perry's latest single, Lifetimes, from her upcoming album 143, was released on Aug. 8 and features scenes of the star enjoying the sun, dancing in the sand and partying in Ibiza and Formentera.
But scenes believed to be filmed in the middle of pro‐ tected sand dunes have got‐ ten her team into trouble.
That's because the dunes, part of the S'Espalmador dune system in the Natural Park of Ses Salines, are among the most ecologically sensitive areas in the Balearic Islands.
WATCH | Katy Perry's Lifetimes music video:
A press release issued by the Environment Department of the Balearic Islands alleges the production company be‐ hind the video did not get the necessary authorization from the ministry before filming.
It notes that "in no case had the production company requested authorization from the Ministry to carry out the filming, and that is why preliminary investigation ac‐ tions have been initiated."
Spain's government clari‐ fies that Perry is not under investigation for environ‐ mental crimes and that filming can be authorized in the area. But because it's pri‐ vate land, you need advance authorization to film there.
The department cites the Natural Resources Manage‐ ment Plan, which mandates that filming of any kind with an advertising or commercial purpose requires express au‐ thorization of the ministry.