Justin Trudeau has been “pursuing” Katy Perry since July; source reveals he ‘even flew to California’ as yacht photos go viral

It appears the romance between pop star Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been quietly brewing for months before their recent yacht photos took the internet by storm.Days after the Daily Mail shared photos of the couple kissing off the coast of Santa Barbara, a source close to Perry revealed that Trudeau had been “pursuing” her since their first date in July. The viral photos show the duo kissing, kissing and sharing affectionate moments aboard Katy’s yacht.The insider told PEOPLE that “when she first hung out with Justin, she wasn’t looking to date him, but they stayed in touch. They have a lot of common interests and a lot to talk about, but Katy was going through too much to even think about dating at that time.”According to the source, Trudeau pulled out all the stops despite his status as an influential political leader. The former Canadian Prime Minister “even flew to California to see her during a break on tour. They have an easy relationship. She finds him attractive. He has been very respectful,” added the source.The 40-year-old singer and the 53-year-old former frontman first sparked dating rumors in July 2025 when they were spotted dining together at Le Violon restaurant in Montreal. Also read: Amid dating rumors between Trudeau and Katy Perry, ex-wife Sophie Grégoire shares “letting go” Instagram postExclusive photos published by the Daily Mail showed the couple sharing intimate moments aboard Perry’s 75-foot yacht, Caravelle, off the coast of Santa Barbara. Perry, dressed in a black swimsuit, was seen kissing Trudeau on the upper deck. One image shows Trudeau placing his hand on Perry’s buttocks.A witness on a passing whale-watching boat told the Daily Mail: “She parked her boat next to a small public whale-watching boat and then they started kissing. I didn’t realize who she was with until I saw the tattoo on the guy’s arm and immediately realized it was Justin Trudeau.”The former Canadian prime minister has a “Haida Raven” tattoo on his upper left arm, which pays homage to a Canadian indigenous community.Trudeau separated from his wife Sophie Grégoire in August 2023 after 18 years of marriage. They share three children: Xavier, 18 years old, Ella-Grace, 16 years old, and Hadrien, 11 years old.A few days after the Trudeau-Perry rumors, his ex-wife Grégoire shared a cryptic post on Instagram relating to “letting go” or “Love has never been about possession”. Perry shares a five-year-old daughter, Daisy Dove, with actor Orlando Bloom, and was previously married to comedian Russell Brand.Neither Perry nor Trudeau has publicly confirmed their relationship.