There’s nothing better for getting you through the week than a glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous and Katy Perry, lovable ball of mayhem that she is, has given us just that this week with her new interview in GQ. Besides the sultry photoshoot published along with the interview, Perry also bares her soul in some unusually personal answers.

Katy Perry, NRJ Music Awards
Underneath the layers of makeup and over-the-top outfits, it sounds like Perry really cares about her music.

The GQ interview was done just before Perry’s American Music Awards performance from 2013 – the one, where she dressed up like a geisha and ignited a string of accusations in cultural appropriation. She defends her choices with the classic performer excuse – she did it for her art, apparently: “All I was trying to do is just give a very beautiful performance about a place that I have so much love for and find so much beauty in, and that was exactly where I was coming from, with no other thought besides it.”

Katy Perry, Radio 1
Her AMA stunt has nearly been forgotten by now.

On November 24 last year, Perry took the stage at the AMAs, dressed up in a geisha outfit and surrounded by a mess of cherry blossoms, dancers in kimonos and other Japanese-inspired paraphernalia. There is a bit of a disconnect, however, since Unconditionally, co-written by Perry during her temporary split from John Mayer, is meant to be about her unconditional love. The way Perry saw it, the geisha motif was perfect for the occasion: “I was thinking about unconditional love, and I was thinking: Geishas are basically, like, the masters of loving unconditionally.”

Katy Perry, Capital FM
Despite her shallow cultural understanding, it sounds like Perry really meant well.

Well, as untrue as that statement might be, it does sound adorably earnest. The rest of the interview continues in the same vein. For those interested in pop culture, Perry or just looking to waste some time, it is a pretty engrossing read.