Pop star Katy Perry has been labeled “entitled” by the family of 85-year-old veteran Carl Westcott after she took possession of his $15 million Montecito, California mansion. 

The dispute, which began 4-years-ago, has now escalated with Perry seeking $6 million in damages for "lost rental value" and alleged "damage" to the home.

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The Origin of the Controversy

In 2020, Perry struck a deal to buy Westcott’s Montecito home for $15 million. Days after the agreement, Westcott—who suffers from Huntington’s disease—attempted to back out, claiming he was under the influence of painkillers when he agreed to the sale.

It is worth noting that Westcott's health has continued to decline, and he has been bedridden for the last 18-months.

“The combination of his age, frailty from his back condition and recent surgery, and the opiates he was taking several times a day rendered Mr. Westcott of unsound mind,” Westcott’s lawyers stated in court documents.

When he agreed to sell, Westcott had only owned the home for a few months. He purchased it in May 2020 for $11.25 million. 

Reports suggest Perry outbid Maria Shriver for the property. It is unclear whether she intended to use the estate as a primary residence with her daughter, Daisy Dove, and partner Orlando Bloom.

Legal Battle and Court Ruling

Westcott was trying to back out after the contract was signed and Perry refused. This led to a prolonged legal battle.

Perry's representatives argued that he was of sound mind when he agreed to the sale.

They contended that Westcott’s change of heart stemmed from an inability to find a suitable alternative property in Montecito.

After years of legal proceedings, a judge ruled in December 2023 in Perry’s favor, upholding the original sale contract.

 Perry officially took possession of the 9,285-square-foot estate in May 2024. The mansion, built in the 1930s, includes eight bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms, a tennis court, two guesthouses, and a pool.

Katy Perry Seeks Additional Damages

Despite winning the case, Perry has now filed a lawsuit seeking up to $6 million in damages from Westcott. She has paid only 9 million of the purchase price and is suing for what is still owed on the mansion.

Her claim includes compensation for alleged damages, repairs, and lost rental income from the time of the real estate dispute.

 Reports indicate that Perry hired a team of 25 experts to assess faults in the home.

Westcott’s family has responded with outrage. In an interview with The Sun, Westcott’s son, Chart Westcott, called Perry’s actions “entitled celebrity behavior” and questioned her pursuit of a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against a bedridden elderly man.

“If an old man apologizes and says he made a mistake [about the house sale], and she’s a rich pop star who can buy any other house in the world, you’d think she would let the old man go on his way,” he said.

Westcott Family Speaks Out

“It’s entitled celebrity behavior. She has no sense of fair play, no empathy, zero empathy, quite the opposite.

“The worse the condition my father is in, the harsher they’ve been in trial; it’s unfortunate to see the way her lawyers have conducted themselves, bottom of the barrel in terms of ethics.”

He further accused Perry and Bloom of being motivated by “greed,” calling their actions “unforgivable.”

Perry has been ordered to testify in court, and Westcott’s family is pushing for Orlando Bloom to also appear before the judge.

 Meanwhile, Perry’s manager has accused the family of “harassing Bloom” and attempting to turn the case “into a media circus” by insisting on his testimony.

Perry’s Past Real Estate Legal Battles

This is not the first time Katy Perry has been involved in a high-profile real estate legal dispute. 

According to NPR, in a highly publicized case, Perry was involved in a battle over a Los Angeles convent. Sister Catherine Rose Holzman and five other nuns attempted to sell their former convent to restauranteur Dana Hollister.

However, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles argued that the nuns had no right to sell the property and instead approved the sale to Katy Perry.

The court ultimately ruled in Perry’s favor in 2016, forcing the nuns to pay her legal fees amounting to millions of dollars.

Tragically, Sister Holzman collapsed and died in court at the age of 89 during a post-judgment hearing.

Perry’s actions in the Westcott case have sparked widespread backlash, with critics accusing her of lacking compassion. 

The situation has drawn comparisons to her previous legal battle, reinforcing her reputation for aggressive real estate dealings.