Katy Perry music video under investigation for causing possible environmental damage to Spanish dunes

An investigation has been opened into whether the filming of Katy Perry’s latest music video caused environmental damage to the protected dunes of the islet of S’Espalmador, which are located in the Ses Salines de Eivissa and Formentera natural park, one of the most ecologically valuable enclaves of Spain’s Balearic Islands. In a press release issued on Tuesday, the Environment Department of the Balearic regional government said that the production company had not requested the necessary authorization to film the music video.

The U.S. singer filmed the music video for her song Lifetimes on the islands of Ibiza and Formentera, where she is seen dancing and jumping around in different locations, including urban areas, a busy nightclub and in natural settings, including in the dune system of S’Espalmador, within an area delimited by ropes indicating that passage is prohibited, where all of her recording equipment would also have been.

The Environment Department stated that the actions do not constitute a “crime against the environment,” but rather an infringement, since the filming of photographic reports or videos “can be authorized” upon request.

Next to the famous Ses Illetes beach in Formentera, the dunes of S’Espalmador make up the best-preserved dune system in the Balearic Islands and have “great ecological value,” the Balearic regional government states on its tourism website. S’Espalmador is a private islet located north of Formentera and has been part of the Ses Salines de Ibiza and Formentera natural park since 1980. It is approximately 1.8 miles long and 800 meters wide (137 hectares).

Katy Perry is not the only American star who has taken advantage of her stay in Ibiza and Formentera to work. Actor Will Smith chose the recording studio of a luxury hotel in the north of Ibiza to record his latest song. On his Instagram account, which has more than 70 million followers, Smith shared a reel called Ibiza Sunset Vibes, where he is seen rapping and singing part of a song, hanging out with friends and admiring the sunset.

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