Newly single singer Katy Perry and former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau spotted dining together
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Their rendezvous at Le Violon set the internet aflame with speculation about whether the American-born singer and the former head of state were on a date.
PHOTOS: KATYPERRY/INSTAGRAM, REUTERS
Neil Vigdor
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MONTREAL – It is the dinner pairing that has the United States and Canada buzzing.
The newly single pop star Katy Perry and Mr Justin Trudeau, the former prime minister of Canada, dropped by a high-end restaurant in Montreal on July 28 for a meal together.
Their rendezvous at Le Violon, which specialises in “seafood-forward cuisine” and is featured in the Michelin Guide, set the internet aflame with speculation about whether the American-born singer and the former head of state were on a date.
Now that would be rapprochement, especially amid the chilly state of affairs between the once mutually aligned countries over US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his frequent hectoring of Canada as being the “51st state”.
What a juxtaposition. In Perry’s parlance? Hot N Cold (2008).
Perry, 40, and English actor Orlando Bloom, 48, with whom she has a four-year-old daughter, recently broke off their engagement.
In response to questions from The New York Times, Danny Smiles, co-owner and co-executive chef of Le Violon, said on July 29 that the restaurant had hosted Mr Trudeau and Perry the previous night. The restaurant confirmed they had a reservation, but would not say who had booked the table.
“We can’t say for certain it was a date,” Smiles said, “but they were in great spirits.”
American celebrity website TMZ reported on July 29 about the sighting of Perry and Mr Trudeau at the restaurant, publishing photos of the two there, taking a walk earlier and having drinks later at a tavern.
Perry was in between stops on her concert tour in Canada and performed in Ottawa on July 29. She is scheduled to perform in Montreal on July 30 and Quebec City on Aug 1.
Representatives for Perry and Mr Trudeau did not immediately respond on July 29 to requests for comment.
At dinner, the two had the chef’s tasting menu, which included tuna and tomatoes, beef tartare, lobster and asparagus, gnocchi and lamb, according to the restaurant.
Smiles went over to the table to greet Perry and Mr Trudeau. He had met the former prime minister before, the restaurant said.
“So it was a friendly exchange,” Smiles said. “They even came to the kitchen to personally thank the staff before leaving.”
Famous for her catchy lyrics, provocative costumes and hits including Teenage Dream (2010), Firework (2010) and Roar (2013), Perry was a judge for several seasons on US reality singing competition American Idol until 2024, and was a Super Bowl half-time show headliner in 2015. In April, she was part of an all-female crew launched briefly into space by Blue Origin, the private space flight start-up of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Perry is known for her liberal political leanings, having campaigned for both former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former US vice-president Kamala Harris during the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections. The night before the 2024 election, Perry performed at a rally in Pittsburgh for Ms Harris, who lost Pennsylvania and all six other battleground states to Mr Trump in November 2024.
In March, Mr Trudeau left office
