Katy Perry @ the American Music Awards, "perpetuating harmful stereotypes of Asian women?"

[Miles Archer]

Causing a controversy: Singer Katy Perry, wearing a kimono, performs onstage during the 2013 American Music Awards on Nov. 24 in Los Angeles.

While it’s not the first time Katy Perry has donned a kimono in public, many viewers felt the pop star’s geisha-inspired performance of “Unconditionally” at the American Music Awards Sunday night was culturally insensitive.

Against a lavish backdrop of floating lotus blossoms and a Shinto shrine, Perry, 29, performed the ceremony’s opening act in powdery white makeup and a cleavage-baring kimono. Fan-wielding dancers fluttered across the stage, as some glided through the air with colorful umbrellas.

The number triggered a flurry of tweets from viewers, many of whom accused Perry of appropriating Japanese culture and perpetuating harmful stereotypes of Asian women.

http://www.today.com/style/katy-perrys-geisha-inspired-amas-performance-stirs-controversy-2D11650791

[libodem]

1. Geisha-girls

Were more like celebrities and entertainers, who studied art and culture, than the erroneous prostitution myth. Anglo's are such sex crazed idiots they taint every thing with their sick bias.

[mwrguy]

2. Cultural theft and belittling

[Johonny]

3. You know when Brian May and Freddie Mercury came out dressed in Kimono's the crowd loved them

in Japan. I guess life was simpler in the 1970s before people told you what you needed to be outraged about EVERYTHING! What Alfonse Demato did I'm pretty sure is racist this... I don't know. There seems like more important stuff than to belittle every stupid costume a celebrity wears.

[CFLDem]

4. RABBLE, RABBLE, RABBLE! n/t

[el_bryanto]

5. Aren't most musical numbers appropriations from one culture or another?

Was it offensive - or did it portray geishas/asians as bad people?

Bryant