Katy Perry addresses her cultural appropriation in sit down with DeRay McKesson
Katy Perry has been called out multiple times for cultural appropriation, and in a recent sit-down interview with activist DeRay McKesson, she admitted to that appropriation.
Specifically, she mentioned that time she wore her hair in corn rows for the 2013 video for “This Is How We Do.” In a clip of the interview, she explained that she hadn’t understood the impact of her actions but that a friend had sat her down and explained it to her.
— The Weeknd’s producer: “Katy Perry called me a n*****” —
Katy Perry acknowledging her mistakes regarding cultural appropriation, this is extremely respectable of her pic.twitter.com/RkvIhEnXxX
— ㅤ (@touchnick) June 11, 2017
“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,” Perry told McKesson. “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.”
She also said that the “clap back” culture of the internet was not helpful when it came to calling out instances of appropriation, advocating instead that people simply explain the issue to those who are misusing culture and might not realize that they are doing something harmful.
“Sometimes it takes someone to say, out of compassion, out of love, ‘Hey, this is where the origin is,” she said.
Katy Perry. Sitting down w Deray. To have a discussion on cultural appropriation and "how clapbacks hurt".
Laughter isn't even the word. https://t.co/EPP6tBwcq3
— moe (they/them) (@moepriester) June 11, 2017
So Deray's got a new role playing white woman whisperer with Katy Perry? Clearly I need to step my game up. pic.twitter.com/pLa82LG6lr
— Zoé Samudzi (@ztsamudzi) June 11, 2017
I just…there's a video of Katy Perry crying cross legged on a sofa asking black people to be nicer to her in front of Deray.
— Yemi? (@unicornyemi) June 11, 2017
Katy Perry's agenda is to sell this album. Best believe she would've sucked Deray's toes if she thought it would help her ass move units.
— Dora J. Milage (@ithinkmark) June 11, 2017
Deray when Katy grabbed his leg: pic.twitter.com/Hvz1FcsiSU
— Martin Luther Kween (@YoungBossquiat) June 11, 2017
Deray is too intelligent and important to be having cultural appropriation conversations with Katy Perry in 2017
— ur mad (@kodakoffwhite) June 11, 2017
I started #PodSaveThePeople with the goal of discussing activism, race, equity, and solutions with a range of people in a candid way.
— deray mckesson (@deray) June 11, 2017
Katy Perry having a conversation with Deray about being culturally ignorant & wanting ppl to tell her nicely when she fucks up ?
— Auburn Aggravator (@missashnycole) June 11, 2017
I invited Katy, like many others, back in April/March when the podcast was finally coming together. Both schedules led to this weekend.
— deray mckesson (@deray) June 11, 2017
I spoke to a range of people before and after the convo with Katy, just like I did before & after I spoke w/ Snowden, to listen to feedback.
— deray mckesson (@deray) June 11, 2017
& if you've listened to my conversation with Katy & have feedback on the questions I asked or approach, please let me know. I'm listening.
— deray mckesson (@deray) June 11, 2017
Why is Katy Perry having a conversation with Deray about appropriating WOMEN of color cultures. That's not how this works
— Misogynoir Slayer (@TheQueenSpeaks_) June 11, 2017