Pop star Kim Petras has publicly announced her intention to terminate her contract with Republic Records, citing a desire for full artistic autonomy. On X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, January 20th, Petras shared her frustrations, stating, “I’m tired of having no control over my own life or career.” She confirmed that she has formally requested to be dropped by the label and expressed her plan to self-fund and self-curate her music moving forward.

Album Delays and Artist Support Concerns

The German-born musician detailed her grievances, alleging that Republic Records has refused to set a release date for her upcoming album, Detour, despite it being finished for six months. She also claimed that collaborators on the project have not yet received payment. Reflecting on her career, Petras cited her historic 2023 Grammy win for the chart-topping collaboration Unholy with Sam Smith, noting she was the first openly trans artist to receive a Recording Academy award. Despite this recognition, she criticized the label for focusing only on trendy content, writing: “If it’s not a TikTok trend or 80s revival queerbaiting shit these labels have no interest in supporting.”

From Gratitude to Frustration

Petras’s public dispute marks a stark contrast to her earlier praise for Republic Records. After signing with the label in 2021, she lauded the company as the “best label ever” at Billboard’s Power 100 party in 2023, expressing gratitude for the label’s support in shaping her career. In 2025, she released three singles—Polo, Freak It, and I Like Ur Look—and continued teasing Detour, celebrating the album’s “0th birthday” on Instagram at the end of the year. Despite ongoing tensions with Republic, Petras reassured fans that the album will be released, emphatically stating, “I’m dropping Detour regardless.”