Hot & Cold singer, Katy Perry has responded after her shoe collection was removed from stores, amid claims that they featured a blackface design.
The line of sandal and loafers were pulled from stores including Walmart after critics argued against the depiction of a face featuring large red lips.
The singer said: ‘The Rue and The Ora were part of a collection that was released last summer in nine different colour ways (black, blue, gold, graphite, lead, nude, pink, red, silver) and envisioned as a nod to modern art and surrealism.
She added: ‘I was saddened when it was brought to my attention that it was being compared to painful images reminiscent of blackface. Our intention was never to inflict any pain. We have immediately removed them.
A spokesperson for the Katy Perry Collection previously told TMZ: “In order to be respectful and sensitive the team is in the process of pulling the shoes.
The shoes are the latest item to face criticism for allegedly featuring the racist caricature of a red-lipped “Sambo”.
Culled from www.nme.com
