Katy Perry ‘Leaning on’ Celebrity Friends as Ticket Sales Slump: ‘They Know How to Comfort Her’

Katy Perry is dealing with major career stress as a ton of seats remain unsold for her make or break tour – but she’s vowing to tough it out and turn things around, with friends including the Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and of course husband Orlando Bloom backing her every step of the way. 

“Katy isn’t going to sit around crying about it or doing anything rash like cancel shows, but it’s no secret she’s very anxious,” a source exclusively tells In Touch. “Her last tour in 2017 sold really well, there was absolutely no concern, so this is very new for her.” 

As In Touch previously reported, the “Roar” singer, 40, has faced plenty of new lows over the past few months since her latest album, 143, fell virtually flat with fans and critics alike. Hoping for a serious comeback, the album disappointed musically, with many critics labelling it essentially a more boring version of music she put out 10 years prior, and only reached No. 6, a far cry from the multiple No. 1 releases of her peak 2010s era. 

A second source called the sales “mortifying,” adding that the upcoming tour is “in support of an album that didn’t do the numbers that her previous albums have, so it’s only natural for her to worry that it might not draw the fans, which would be so embarrassing.”

Although Katy’s ticket sales have been steady in high-population areas like New York, in smaller cities around the country the pop icon has been struggling to fill the gigantic theaters she’s booked. For her performance in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 13, for example, the “Woman’s World” singer has only sold around 30 percent of the seats. The situation was about the same for her shows in Denver, Colorado, Raleigh, North Carolina and Inglewood, California.

“A lot of people in her camp are trying to stay upbeat about it and insisting that it’s not on her, that it’s because the economy isn’t doing well,” the first source continues. Though, the insider notes that argument is hardly of any comfort, “when you consider Taylor Swift just had the highest grossing concert tour in all of history.” 

“She brought in $2 billion so people are clearly willing to spend money, it’s just a matter of what artist they are willing to spend it on,” the source adds. 

While Taylor’s recent success may make Katy’s poor ticket sales a hard pill to swallow, there’s still hope her fans will still come out to support her when she begins making her way around the country. 

“Katy really doesn’t have the space in her life to be worrying about this and letting it take her off her game, she needs to be in full prep mode. That’s easier said than done, but fortunately she has a great circle of people around her, who all operate in very high stakes worlds, so they get it, they know how to comfort her and help her get through this.” 

The insider adds her husband, Orlando, “is her main cheerleader, but she’s been leaning on all her celebrity friends, Sussexes included.”