Why Katy Perry is facing backlash by voting for Democrat mayoral candidate Rick Caruso

Katy Perry posted a photo of herself voting in the mid-term elections - and caused a storm in the process.

Taking part in the election for the next mayor of Los Angeles, the Firework singer backed former Republican Rick Caruso.

In the pic, she gave a thumbs-up next to the ballot paper and wrote: “I am voting for a myriad of reasons but in particular because Los Angeles is a hot mess atm.”

It came just hours after she tweeted out a video supporting abortion rights and Roe v Wade - which left some fans angry due to Caruso’s mixed record on reproductive rights.

Caruso is a billionaire and devout Catholic who switched his registration from Republican to Democrat in January - right before he announced his mayoral candidacy.

His spokesman told local outlets: “Rick has always been pro-choice and has always supported Roe v Wade”.

However in an interview with LA Magazine in 2007 he reportedly said that he opposes abortion “in most cases”.

He has also made donations to anti-abortion politicians right up until this year.

The University of Southern California - which has a center named after him thanks to a $9m donation - has also opposed the state’s proposition which is aimed at protecting abortion rights in the state.

Fans flooded Twitter with their concerns, with one writing: “Never understand voting against your own self-interests.”

Another said: “I mean, she is entitled to vote for whoever she wants to, but damn why does she gotta go and choose the worse option!?”

A third said: “She was a gospel artist before she became a pop artist. Ppl forget she will do anything to appeal to the public but she still comes from a Christian conservative background.”

YouTuber Tyler Oakley was aghast, posting: “Not Katy Perry voting Republican!

“Rich Caruso is the Republican candidate and has spent $100,000,000 to try to buy this race.”

Earlier this month she went viral after appearing to suffer an 'eye glitch' on stage - she later said that she welcomed the ensuing conspiracy theories.

She also ended up in hot water after fans were offended by Jeffrey Dahmer-related lyrics in her song Dark Horse.

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