At this point it’s never surprising to hear Katy Perry’s name associated with cultural appropriation. The singer is a repeat offender, who has not only co-opted Black culture but also managed to offend the Asian community as well.
However, in an unexpected move Perry apologized for her racially insensitive transgressions during an interview this past Saturday (June 10) with Black Lives Matter activist DeRay McKesson. The live-streamed conversation touched on an array of topics, but the internet really took noticed once the Grammy Award-winning songstress mentioned her “several mistakes” while attempting to celebrate other cultures.
She kicked off the apology by acknowledging her misstep in the “This Is How We Do” video where she sported a head full of cornrows.
In the clip below you hear Perry explain how a Black friend had to school her on the subject of Black hair.
“She told me about the power of Black women’s hair, and how beautiful it is, and the struggle. And I listened, and I heard, and I didn’t know. And I will never understand some of those things because of who I am. But I can educate myself, and that’s what I’m trying to do along the way,” Perry told McKesson.
While it’s encouraging to see Perry recognize that her actions were inappropriate — it’s ridiculous that we’re still at a point where these type of mistakes are happening.
The internet is torn as well. Some have applauded her apology and others are questioning it’s sincerity. McKesson has weighed in on the backlash as well and offered the following statement on the matter via Twitter:
Bottom line is we’ll be watching her ever move from this point on. Don’t apologize and fine yourself cherry picking other cultures, Ms. Perry. Get woke!