Katy Perry has shared her heartbreak over the loss of one of her managers, Martin Kirkup.
Kirkup died, aged 75, on February 4 while on a holiday in Hawaii according to Billboard. His cause of death has not been confirmed.
Singer Perry reflected on their experiences and his role in helping her reach stardom.
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“It’s taken me a little while to make this post … something about posting it makes it all feel, final … and even though Martin wasn’t particularly fond of social media and its sensationalism, I must respectfully take a moment and speak on how special he was and is to me,” she wrote in an emotional Instagram post on Friday morning.
“I say ‘is’ because I personally don’t believe that anyone ‘dies’; they simply move on to the next dimension. They aren’t here anymore, but are now EVERYWHERE ✨.”
She explained Kirkup was one her her managers for almost two decades, being the “bullfrog” of the group.
“Martin was one of my protectors. He was vigilant about getting me what I deserved and celebrated the headstrong female I am,” she said.
“I have been so fortunate to have an INCREDIBLE team by my side for almost 20 years, before I had (as my father from Memphis would say) a pot to pee in or a window to throw it from!
“Martin, along with all of my managers, have literally fought day in and day out for my voice to be heard, and I have SO much pride, respect and admiration for my team at Direct Management.”
She shared that with Kirkup by her side, they climbed “so many wonderful professional mountains and have thoroughly enjoyed the views together — traveling, tasting, learning, celebrating, leaning into the fullness and beauty of life”.
“Martin left this dimension with no stones unturned!”
Just three days before Kirkup’s death, he heard some of the new things Perry had been working on.
Perry shared her favourite number, 143, explaining the 1 is for I, 4 for love and 3 for you.
“It’s been a number I have seen many times since the birth of my daughter, Daisy,” she said of her daughter with actor Orlando Bloom.
“It’s come to me in some of my hardest times to comfort me and is a constant confirmation that whatever I’m doing or path I’m on is the right one to be on.
“It’s my angels and guides sending a little numerical code to me whenever they wanna engage.
“The day after Martin passed, 143s were everywhere.
“The receipt in the morning was 143, the length of the movie we watched was 143, and to top it off, the one person that came up to me to ask for a picture introduced himself as Martin.
“What a coincidence, eh?”
She ended the post by remarking: “What an honour it was to have Martin Kirkup on my team.
“I hear you Martin, and 143 back to you ♥️.”
Kirkup was the co-founder of Direct Management Group alongside Steven Jensen.
Jensen told Billboard: “Martin Kirkup and I conceived Direct Management while drinking raki at a restaurant high above the Bosphorus in Istanbul, escaping the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.
“We were both fans of alternative pop music and focused on establishing a boutique management company to support that exciting genre of music.
“I’m proud to have built Direct Management with Martin and Bradford Cobb to the global presence it has today, with integrity, honour and ingenuity, much of which was contributed by Martin.
“His influence is a permanent fixture of the Direct Management culture.”
