Katy Perry's AMA Japanese Tribute Sparks Racism Claims ::Katy Perry News ::antiMusic.com

Katy Perry's AMA Japanese Tribute Sparks Racism Claims

11/26/2013
. (Radio.com) When Katy Perry took the stage Sunday night (Nov. 24) for her performance of new single "Unconditionally," the last thing she thought she'd be called was a racist. Hours before, she tweeted a photo as a clue to the theme of her AMAs performance.

She tweeted, "A clue to the theme of my AMA performance this evening! I will be OPENING the show & taking you on a trip!!! http://t.co/axoV5COKZV."

Dressed as geisha while tribal drums were heard in the background, it was evident Perry was trying to pay homage to Japanese culture. Giant fans, cherry blossoms, a Shinto shrine and additional props made to look like The Great Wave off Kanagawa set the stage.

A show of her infatuation for the Japanese, Perry has never hidden her appreciation for the culture. Earlier this year, during an interview with Jimmy Kimmel she expressed just this.

"I am obsessed with Japanese people," Perry said. "I love everything about them and they are so wonderful as human beings."

What she said next though, raised some eyebrows. "I'm so obsessed I want to skin you and wear you like Versace," she joked. While some saw her comments as admiration, others deemed her performance racist. Read about that here.

Radio.com is an official news provider for antiMusic.com.
Copyright Radio.com/CBS Local - Excerpted here with permission.