Katy Perry Compelled to Testify in Court in Middle of Tour After Alleged Orlando ‘Spat’ Revealed.
Katy Perry may be forced to testify in a contentious legal battle with a disabled veteran in the middle of her upcoming tour, following the revelation of an alleged "spat" with Orlando Bloom, as reported by Lawyer Monthly.
Lawyer Monthly has obtained court documents showing that a hearing took place on February 10 as part of a lawsuit filed by 85-year-old Carl Westcott against Katy's business manager, Bernie Gudvi. Carl, the founder of 1-800-Flowers, claims he sold his Santa Barbara mansion to Bernie, acting on Katy’s behalf, for $15 million in 2020. According to Carl, he was under the influence of painkillers after undergoing surgery when he made the deal. Once the medication wore off, Carl attempted to back out of the agreement, but Katy's team reportedly refused. In the first phase of the trial, the court ruled that Bernie was the rightful owner, making the deal Carl executed enforceable.
Katy received the keys to the property last year, according to court filings. Now, the parties are gearing up for the second phase of the trial. The judge had previously ordered Katy to testify regarding the alleged damages, with the testimony scheduled for phase two, which was initially set for February 25.
The trial date has been delayed several times for various reasons. Carl’s lawyer recently requested another delay, citing severe health issues that made it difficult for him to prepare properly for the trial.
At the most recent hearing, the judge granted the delay. The second phase of the trial will now begin on August 21 and run through August 28, with daily sessions starting at 10 a.m. The judge issued a stern order, stating, "There shall be absolutely NO FURTHER CONTINUANCES OF THE TRIAL!!!!" This trial schedule could present logistical problems for Katy, who is set to embark on her first tour in seven years, The Lifetime Tours, beginning April 23.
The pop star will tour North America until the end of August. She is then scheduled to launch the international leg of the tour on September 6 in Buenos Aires, continuing with dates until November 7.
The trial dates of August 21 through August 28 may clash with Katy’s tour schedule, which includes performances in Atlanta on August 20, Tampa on August 22, and Miami on August 23.
As previously reported, there is also a legal battle over whether Orlando Bloom, Katy's partner, will be required to testify in the case. Carl’s legal team issued a subpoena demanding Orlando testify. However, Katy’s business manager opposed the subpoena, arguing it was intended to violate Orlando’s privacy, disrupt Katy’s family, harass Orlando, and “further sensationalize this straightforward property dispute and damage calculation.” Carl’s attorney countered that Orlando’s testimony was crucial, stating, “It is clear that [Orlando] is so closely aligned with [Katy], and that he is supervising repairs, such that he is a material witness to the scope of repairs and to the scope of all other work being done or contemplated at the house.”
Court documents also revealed that Carl’s property manager, who met Orlando at the home for inspections, testified in a deposition about an alleged “spat” between Orlando and Katy in 2024.
As reported, Carl’s family fears the 85-year-old may not survive to see phase two of the trial. In November 2024, Carl’s family released a statement “Our dad has been bedridden in a care facility as slowly we watch his health decline. Huntington’s disease, like Alzheimer’s, is a horrible disease and each and every day is different.”
