Katy Perry addresses AFL grand final controversy over hit song

Popstar Katy Perry is battling a number of dramas ahead of her highly anticipated appearance at this weekend’s AFL grand final.

The Brisbane Lions and Katy Perry on The Fox. Photos: Getty Images/Supplied

Katy Perry is getting embroiled in more controversy than she ever could have expected in the build-up to her AFL grand final appearance on Saturday.

It was announced back in July the American pop superstar would be the headline act at the MCG.

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It is a significant coup for the AFL, which has a highly checkered history of singing acts for the big game.

For every Robbie Williams, there seems to be a Meatloaf thrown in to spoil the footy party.

While Perry seemed a safe, hugely popular choice for the game, which will be contested between the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions, she has found herself tied up in controversy this week.

The Brisbane Lions and Katy Perry on The Fox. Photos: Getty Images/Supplied

Firstly her rehearsals at the ground will limit the Lions to only one training session at the MCG, when they were hoping for an extra run on Thursday.

Then not one but two storms were brewing over Perry’s playlist for the big occasion.

The first issues centred around the 39-year-old’s desire to play songs from her new album, along with some of her classics, while the AFL was reportedly only keen for the big hits.

The league’s stance is understandable as the new album, titled 143, has flopped to date and even achieved notoriety after becoming the worst-rated album on review aggregator Metacritic for almost 15 years.

A compromise was reached and it’s expected Perry will now sing one new track and four classics during the show.

Robbie Williams in one of the best MCG efforts. Picture by Michael Klein

And Meatloaf in probably the worst.

The fresh drama is over whether one of those songs will be the 2013 megahit, Roar, a song that has been associated with the Brisbane Lions.

It became a talking point on Nine’s Today Show on Wednesday morning, with host Karl Stefanovic blasting the news Perry wasn’t going to sing the song to avoid any perceived bias or added benefit towards the Queensland side.

“It’s one of Katy Perry’s best songs and highest selling, but there’s a vicious rumour … Katy Perry couldn’t sing her famous track Roar because it would unfairly support the Brisbane Lions in their quest for another grand final victory,” he said.

“It would be an outrage if she can’t play it. It would be ridiculous.”

Katy Perry promoting her AFL grand final appearance in July. Photo: AFL

Now, in an interview that will be aired on Thursday morning, Perry spoke to Melbourne breakfast radio show, The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick, and addressed the kerfuffle.

After establishing that Brendan Fevola once played for the Brisbane Lions, Perry said:

“Oh, the Lions! I have to cut my song “Roar” out of the set because it’s not fair.”

After Fevola repeatedly refuted that idea, she said: “That’s what everybody says.”

“You need to play it,” Fevola replied.

And then Perry seemed to quickly give in, stating: “Okay, I’ll play it. I’ll play it.”

Lions defender Jack Payne was asked about the drama after the team’s flight to Melbourne and said: “I didn’t even know that, hopefully she can (sing it).”

Perry also spoke about a rumour an Australian female icon would join her on stage and Fevola was convinced it will be Tina Arena.

“You’ll just have to wait and see,” Perry said.