Katy Perry is facing public scrutiny after continuing a legal battle with an 85-year-old disabled army veteran.
The veteran, Carl Westcott, is bedridden and currently in hospice care with Huntington’s disease.
He previously owned the $15 million Montecito home that Perry purchased in 2020 with Orlando Bloom.
The couple sent Westcott a handwritten letter expressing their desire to start a family there. They told him they were expecting a baby and believed the estate would be a perfect home.
Westcott later attempted to withdraw from the agreement, claiming he lacked mental capacity at signing.
He said he was recovering from surgery and taking strong pain medication at the time of the sale. A judge ruled in December 2023 that Westcott had not proven he was mentally incapacitated.
The ruling favored Perry, confirming the validity of the property contract. Perry’s lawyer also claimed Westcott received a backup offer from Maria Shriver.
Perry Now Seeking Nearly $5 Million in Damages
After winning the case, Perry filed a countersuit demanding nearly $5 million from Westcott.
She claims she lost $3.25 million in potential rental income during the legal dispute. She is also seeking around $2.2 million for repair work and additional legal expenses.
Westcott remains in hospice, receiving full-time care for his terminal illness. His son said the lawsuit has placed significant emotional stress on the family.
He said, “An apology would be welcome,” but did not expect one to come.
A U.S. public relations strategist warned that the case looks damaging for Perry’s reputation.
“The optics are terrible,” said Abesi Manyando in a statement to The Telegraph.
“This is now a David and Goliath narrative, and that carries emotional weight.”
Manyando pointed out that Perry has wealth, legal power and resources. He added that the case pits her against an elderly, ill veteran who already lost the home.
Not the First Elderly Legal Dispute Involving Perry
This is not the first time Perry has faced legal conflict with senior citizens.
In 2018, Perry was involved in a property dispute with several elderly nuns in Los Angeles. One of the nuns, Sister Catherine Rose Holzman, collapsed and died during a court hearing.
Before her death, she made a public plea to Perry, saying, “To Katy Perry, please stop.” The case involved the sale of a convent that the nuns claimed they had rights to sell.
As the current case continues, questions remain about potential settlement or continued litigation.
Westcott’s legal team has not confirmed whether he will pursue further legal action.
Perry has not made public comments about the case since the damages filing.
Featured image credit: katyperry/instagram & Kameron Westcott/Facebook
