Her kimono, despite some cultural inaccuracies in the form of strategic slits, was rather prim by Hollywood standards. In an age where music award videos have devolved to breast-flashing wardrobe malfunctions, Perry's performance was downright innocuous by comparison. But was surprised to find: I was rather underwhelmed. When I finally watched the video, I braced myself for Perry's blatant display of yellowface.
I pictured Katy Perry in full geisha gear, alternately kowtowing and twerking towards her love interest while belting out, "Me love you long time." Or the entire Spanish Olympic basketball team making the same exact gesture some 30 years later at the Beijing Olympics. A la David Bowie yanking at the corners of his eyes in his " China Girl" video. Naturally, I expected a mash-up of every worst possible Asian affront. which, whether a compliment or not, at least acknowledged that Perry, against all better judgment, "went there". Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton said, "Kimono-she-didn't!". Ravi Chandra of Psychology Today claimed Perry's performance was the racist equivalent of performing in blackface. Nolan Feeney wrote in The Atlantic that "it's these kinds of stereotypical visuals that play into white fetishization of Asian women – something Perry doesn't have to deal with when she takes off her costume". Jeff Yang of the Wall Street Journal decried Perry's "whiteface/yellowface performance" as "a harsh reminder of how deeply anchored the archetype of the exotic, self-sacrificing 'lotus blossom' is in the Western imagination". A quick primer for those who, like me, missed it the first time around: Katy Perry performed her new single "Unconditionally" while wearing a Japanese kimono, on a set festooned with cherry blossoms, rice paper screens, and fluttering fan dancers. I was reminded of that failed (and yes, definitively un-PC) costume yesterday, when friends and colleagues emailed links to strongly-worded articles about Katy Perry's performance during Sunday night's American Music Awards. The costume, for obvious reasons and beyond, was a bust I was upstaged by an actual geisha (kimono, tabi socks, and all), a mail order bride from the developing world, and the ball and chain toting Japanese schoolgirl from Kill Bill. I even had a prop: the man I showed up with was "The White Guy. I paired the dress with plastic chopsticks stuck into my hair, slapped some baby powder on my face, and called myself an "Asian Fetish". Twice.S trapped for a last-minute costume one Halloween, I rifled through the racks at Forever 21 before stumbling on inspiration: a red flower-print dress made of cheap cloth trying to pass itself off as shantung silk. She forgot to announce what stars sing on her album. Make sure you listen through to the extra 2 endings of the podcast.
Raised by her single mama who gave birth to her at 16, Laci shares with me intimate details of her childhood and gives a first hand, detailed explanation about her journey with American Idol… what the judges are really like, even secrets Katy Perry told her )!! Laci Kaye Booth has coined the phrase “dreamy country” for her style and brand, and let me tell ya something, she lives up to it and more! I feel like we were made to be friends and I just love her voice and songs, including her single, SHUFFLE. It was love at first everything for me with her. I know that sounds super emo but it’s just the truth.
Like I feel deep pain for her beauty, and soul, and whole vibe. Laci Kaye is SO PRETTY it actually hurts me.