Wrong Choice! Prince Charles Gives Katy Perry Special Role; Sparks Controversy
The heir to the British crown is once again in the middle of controversy. This is after he named pop star Katy Perry as the newest ambassador for British Asian Trust's Children Protection Fund for India.
On Tuesday, Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, graced the British Asian Trust's annual royal dinner at Banqueting House in London together with senior Cabinet ministers, global business leaders, and other prominent celebrities.
During the same event, the Prince of Wales announced that the 35-year-old singer would serve as the organization's ambassador to help fight child-trafficking in India. Prince Charles and Katy first met in Mumbai last November 2019.
While presenting the singer's new role, the 71-year-old son of Queen Elizabeth II commended Katy for her "long-standing commitment to charitable causes around the world."
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Clarence House (@clarencehouse) on Feb 4, 2020 at 1:02pm PST
Katy, who also serves as UNICEF (United Nation's International Children Emergency Fund) Goodwill Ambassador, said that she is very honored to represent British Asian Trust and be a part of the solution in the growing number of child-trafficking.
"I was impressed by their strong plan, from on-ground initiatives to fundraising, that will aim to cut child trafficking in half," Katy said.
The "Fireworks" singer's role is to act in the interest of the organization, which is currently campaigning to end child labor in India. Katy is joined by other ambassadors, including BBC journalist Asad Ahmad, cricket coach Azhar Mahmood, DJ Nihal Arthanayake, sports medicine specialist Dr. Zaf Iqbal, and director Gurinder Chadha.
View this post on InstagramSo pleased to be appointed by HRH The Prince of Wales @clarencehouse as ambassador for @thebritishasiantrust Children’s Protection Fund. In my role, I will primarily focus my spotlight on helping find solutions to end child trafficking. India has always been a place I have a magnetic connection with, and in addition to my work as a @UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, I’m excited to be part of the work of helping the children of South Asia. Every child matters and has the right to basic human needs. You can start the help by donating at the link in bio. A post shared by KATY PERRY (@katyperry) on Feb 5, 2020 at 7:13am PST
However, Prince Charles' decision to give the role to the "American Idol" judge immediately sparked furry among people questioning Katy's credentials. On top of that, among all the ambassadors on the list, Katy is neither British nor Asian.
Twitter users are not convinced that the "California Girls" singer is qualified for the said role, noting that her appointment shows "colonialism at its finest."
"I love Katy but seriously? She's not British, or is she Asian. There are SO MANY BRITISH ASIAN celebrities who should be in her place," one Twitter user said.
Other pointed out that while Katy is a great singer and performer, the organization should have chosen someone that is native to ethnicity and someone who understands both British and Asian perspective.
Colonialism at it’s finest. Of course we want to help on the biggest platform possible, but cant we find a South Asian worldwide representative instead of someone renowned for cultural appropriation & tone deafness? #katyperry #britishasiantrust https://t.co/xMPu3FOLDV — Namalee Bolle (@namalee) February 5, 2020
I love Katy but seriously? She's not British or is she Asian. There are SO MANY BRITISH ASIAN celebrities who should be in her place: Dev Patel, Jameela Jamil, Anjali Mohindra, Parminder Nagra and Riz Ahmed to name a few. https://t.co/J1su2rQoFV — Zarik (@zyusaf13) February 5, 2020
Even on basic levels this country can't get race relations right.
For the avoidance of doubt: white American women should not be representatives of British Asian people. https://t.co/GDmu8xTAp8 — Nadine Batchelor-Hunt (@nadinebh_) February 4, 2020
How ridiculously dumb. The ambassador should be a UK citizen. Y'all are de-legitimizing yourselves. Skip the Crown and grant it to the Duke of Cambridge. If I was a UK citizen I would protest outside, freezing rain and hail. — Duchess Galaxy Glitterz (@GalaxyGlitterz) February 4, 2020
How insulting to Britains that a Disrespectfully, inappropriately dressed, American pop singer with a huge, barely covered, heaved up, eye-popping cleavage has been chosen as a British Ambassador. No wonder respect for the RF is PLUMMETING! — Without a trace (@BardenTracie) February 5, 2020
Meanwhile, the singer's fellow British Trust ambassador came to her rescue and defended Katy from all the negative comments.
"Are you suggesting that as a charity, the BAT only accept(s) ambassadors who are Asian?" DJ Nihal Arthanayake responded on Twitter. "It's about finding people who are passionate about the work the charity does. She alone helped raise 130k last night."
Nihal further argued that the ambassadorship role does not always have to have a connection between the individual's work and the British Asian community. He said that "human connection" alone is enough, citing that Katy's pro-children work in UNICEF is also a positive thing.
Are you suggesting that as a charity the BAT only accept ambassadors who are Asian? It's about finding people who are passionate about the work the charity does. She alone helped raise 130k last night. — Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) February 5, 2020
The connection is a human one. Plus she loves India and in her work for UNICEF focuses on the plight of children. I really wish I didnt have to explain this and you would see her influence and reach as a positive thing. Get it now? — Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) February 5, 2020
As of writing, both Katy Perry and the Buckingham Palace has yet to comment on the controversy surrounding her appointment.
