Uproar breaks online, with many finding her guilty of “appropriating Asian culture”

Nov 26, 2013 11:47 GMT  ·  By

Katy Perry opened this Sunday’s American Music Awards 2013 with a live performance of her latest single, “Unconditionally,” set against a backdrop inspired by Japanese culture. Though many fans found the show truly spectacular and respectful, a tribute of sorts, there were also many who didn’t.

Metro reports that uproar broke online almost instantly after the performance ended, with many accusing the pop star of “appropriating Asian culture” and branding her racist because of it.

You can see the performance in the video above: Katy was wearing a silk kimono and lots of makeup to have porcelain-white skin and have more “Asian” features. The dance routines were also inspired by Japanese culture, with her backup dancers dressed as geishas, just like she was.

This isn’t the first time that Katy ends up in trouble for something she says or does related to the Japanese culture. Last summer, she went on Jimmy Kimmel and said she was so fascinated by it that she wanted to “want to skin you [the Japanese] and wear you like Versace!”

Back then too, she refused to acknowledge the controversy she created in any way.