Avril Lavigne's new video for "Hello Kitty" became a lightning rod for controversy after its release this week, with many criticisms focused on Lavigne's appropriation of Japanese culture in the clip.
"Asian women are not your backdrops; neither are they 'oriental displays," an Australian blogger wrote of the video. "ASIAN WOMEN ARE NOT YOUR ACCESSORIES."
For her part, Lavigne brushed aside the outrage with a pair of tweets that played up her connection with Japanese culture.
Lavigne isn't the only person who felt that the critiques against "Hello Kitty" were misplaced. There were at least four others who agreed with her, as HuffPost Japan's editor found online and translated.
1. "Huh? What is discriminatory about this video? Those who thing 'it is discriminatory' are the ones who are discriminating." -- @IdealDaddy
2. "It's a pleasure that she loves Japan and talks about Japanese culture in her song!" -- Cyzo Woman
3. "Avril was inspired by 'KYARY PAMYU PAMYU,' right? I don't understand why this is racist at all." -- @taaman_b
4. "The thought that 'this song is discriminatory' is what generates real racial discrimination." -- @tetsuokobayashi
Watch Lavigne's controversial video below. Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
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