Singer Avril Lavigne is back in the spotlight, although the former pop princess isn’t getting attention for a new girl power anthem.
Lavigne, of Complicated fame, shot a new video for the song Hello Kitty which features Japanese backup dancers, Japanese cuisine, and a smattering of the culture’s language.
The video quickly came under attack for the “dead eyes” portrayal of the dancers and allegedly presenting a cartoonish look at the culture. Billboard slammed the song and called the video racist.
Lavigne isn’t backing down.
The dancers in particular could be compared to the models who accompanied Robert Palmer in the famous Addictied to Love video from 1986.