Plot Summary

Katy Perry plays a Marie Antoinette-like noblewoman trapped in the rituals and expectations of royal life. Surrounded by extravagant costumes, servants, suitors, and courtly distractions, she longs to escape her assigned role. Her fantasy transports her into the armor of Joan of Arc, where she becomes a determined warrior. The dream turns violent when her royal character is executed by a monstrous king. Her Joan persona then returns to defeat him, transforming the video into a bright, campy empowerment fable.

Factoids & Trivia

Isaac Rentz directed the video, which was filmed in Beverly Hills, California. With Nina Dluhy-Miller and Danny Lockwood producing.

The video was released on Katy Perry’s official YouTube channel on December 20, 2017. A separate behind-the-scenes feature followed on January 4, 2018.

Perry described the concept as a dual portrait: a Marie Antoinette-type character discovering Joan of Arc’s strength, perseverance, and individuality.

The production used six backup dancers, with Megan Lawson credited as choreographer.

The contrast between the two historical figures is the video’s central device: the royal persona represents confinement and performance, while Joan of Arc becomes an exaggerated fantasy of agency and retaliation.

The deliberately theatrical execution and revenge sequence turn the song’s repeated “hey” into a kind of battle cry, pushing the video toward fairy-tale camp rather than historical drama.

“Hey Hey Hey” was the fourth music video associated with Perry’s Witness era, following the videos for “Chained to the Rhythm,” “Bon Appétit,” and “Swish Swish.”