Katy Perry apologizes amid blackface criticism over her shoe design
‘Our intention was never to inflict any pain,’ the singer says. The crisis is the latest in a string of high-profile missteps highlighting the need for diversity and sensitivity to racial stereotypes.
Katy Perry is the latest to issue a mea culpa for a fashion design that has elicited claims of racism.
The singer’s sandals and loafers feature a face made with metal appliques, and they include large blue eyes, a nose and exaggerated red lips. Though the design is on footwear of different colors, a product listing of the black shoes has caused backlash online and in headlines.
The visage on the black shoes in both styles drew comparisons to blackface, the racist face-painting practice that started as a way for white performers to mock enslaved Africans in minstrel shows using black paint and exaggerated facial features.
Several Twitter users criticized the design, with tweets such as these:
Black History Month…Day 11! https://t.co/oTFc6ufTpO
— Eric Haywood (@EricHaywood) February 11, 2019
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Tags: Katy Perry
