When you think about British South-Asian ambassadors, you may think of actors like Dev Patel, Indira Varma or Riz Ahmed, or singers Zayn Malik, M.I.A.or Leo Kalyan; comedians like Sadia Azmat and Tez Ilyas; athletes like Amir Khan and Samera Ashraf, or any of the other many brilliant people that make up the vast culture. You probably don’t think about Katy Perry, a white American singer better known for hits like‘California Gurls’ and ‘Roar’. However, as announced Tuesday, 4 February, Katy was appointed an ambassador for the British Asian Trust by Prince Charles.
Unsurprisingly, social media has erupted in shock, confusion and outrage, with many questioning the reasoning behind the decision as Katy is neither Asian nor British.
‘Hang on... I am a huge Katy Perry fan, but BRITISH ASIAN trust... erm... what? She is a massive pop star with great influence. I think her music is fab. But she’s not British, nor Asian…’ tweeted NHS Doctor and TV presenter Ranj Singh.
‘If British Asians can’t even get jobs that have British Asian in the job title...,’ commented radio presented Roushan Alam.
‘Another brilliantly tone deaf move by the Royal Family. They found a white American woman to be the person to address British Asian sex trafficking issues. Make it make some sense please. Just a little even. @ClarenceHouse [sic],’ tweeted another critic.
The reaction is compounded further by accusations of cultural appropriation; accusations that have long plagued the singer’s career, from dressing up as a geisha and Egyptian pharaoh to adopting black hairstyles and traditional Indian dress. Not to mention that January 2020 VogueIndia cover shoot which included Katy in Desi dress and posing amongst Indian children, one of whom is dressed up in a bucket of chips costume emblazoned ‘Katy’s Fries’. It’s an image that campaigner and humanitarian Sajda Mughal says ‘[s]pews the white saviour narrative.’
The Trust, founded by the Prince of Wales and distinguished British Asian business leaders in 2007, was set up to tackle poverty and hardship in South Asia, focusing on five key areas: livelihoods, education, mental health/disability and anti-human trafficking. Currently, the Trust works with local partners in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Alongside billionaire hedge fund manager and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), the Trust is to develop the largest anti-trafficking fund ever seen in South Asia.
It is believed that the choice to appoint Katy is due partly to the star’s work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador which she started in 2013.
The decision was announced at a black-tie reception and dinner at Banqueting House in London which Katy, Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall attended. At the event, Katy revealed that she first met Charles in Mumbai in November and attended a Trust meeting to learn more about its work. ‘I was impressed by their strong plan – from on-ground initiatives to fundraising – that will aim to cut child-trafficking in half,’ she said.
‘Children are vulnerable and innocent and have to be protected,’ she added, saying that she hoped to ‘help shine my light on the work that the British Asian Trust will be doing in South Asia, and to be a part of finding solutions to child-trafficking.’
As of yet, neither Prince Charles nor Katy Perry has remarked on the backlash.
The British Asian Trust told Grazia: 'We are delighted to have Katy raising awareness of the shocking crime of child trafficking and child exploitation. Katy is one of many ambassadors working with us, and supporters from all across the world, to transform lives.'
READ MORE
Katy Perry's New Video Has Upset 50,000 People Who Want It Banned
The Unique Weirdness Of Being A British Asian Muslim At A White Catholic Girls' School
UKIP's British-Asian Poster Girl Says She's Leaving The Party Because of Racism
Meet The Young British Muslims Looking To Rebrand Their Religion
Please Stop Referring To The Only Asian Man On Love Island As 'Aladdin'
READ MORE: What's Up In Westminster?
Whats Up In Westminster - Grazia
1 of 14Jess Phillips: 'I Want Everyone In The Country To Know They Have The Power To Change The Law'
Labour MP Jess Phillips, known for her tenacity and unflinching speeches.
2 of 14Dawn Butler: 'Black History Is Not Just For October'
Shadow Women and Equalities Minster, Dawn Butler, explains why Boris Johnson could learn a thing or two this Black History Month.
3 of 14Harriet Harman: 'We Need To Stop Sexual Liberation Being Used As A Defence For Men Killing Women'
Labour's Harriet Harman, the longest-serving female MP, reveals her frustration with both the fight for equality and, of course, Brexit
4 of 14Diane Abbott: 'I Get Rape And Death Threats Every Day'
Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott on how Westminster feels like a school playground right now, and why young people need better sex education
5 of 14Esther McVey: 'My Family Are Anxious At The Thought Of Me Being Trolled As The Next Prime Minister'
Tory leadership hopeful Esther Mcvey tells us why she wants to lead the country, despite the potential pitfalls
6 of 14Tulip Siddiq: I've Had A Woman Say To Me 'You Can't Be A Mother And An MP'
MP Tulip Siddiq, 36, made history when she delayed her C-section to vote on Brexit. She tells Gaby Hinsliff about having no maternity leave, balancing constituents' and kids' needs and trying to encourage more women into politics
7 of 14Diana Johnson: 'People Don't Realise We Need New Abortion Laws In England And Wales'
It's not right that women in this country can still go to prison for terminating a pregnancy, says Labour MP Diana Johnson
8 of 14Rachel Johnson: 'I Want To Get Stuck In - I Don't Want To Be Used As 'Sister Of Boris'
Journalist Rachel Johnson wants to be our next Member of the European Parliament - and unlike her famous brother, she's anti-Brexit
9 of 14Rebecca Long-Bailey: 'I'm One Of Only Three Women At The Brexit Talks Table'
The Labour MP and Shadow Business Secretary urges new action to tackle the climate crises
10 of 14Jess Phillips: 'Every Woman I Know Has Suffered Violence, Myself Included'
That's why Labour MP Jess Phillips is tackling domestic violence legislation this week - even amidst the chaos of Brexit
11 of 14Luciana Berger: 'There's Still Such An Imbalance In How We Address Mental Health'
Luciana Berger, Independent MP, is worried that despite the warm words, mental health care is still not being taken seriously
.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
12 of 14Sarah Wollaston: 'My Anti-Stalking Law Must Not Be Delayed By Brexit'
Newly Independent (formerly Conservative) MP Sarah Wollaston talks about stalking, second referendum and... riding her tandem
13 of 14Rushanara Ali: 'Women have every right to be in politics'
Bethnal Green MP Rushanara Ali is fighting to make housing safer, and enters the debate about whether ISIS brides should be allowed to return to the UK.
14 of 14Heidi Allen: 'Speaking About My Abortion In The Commons Was One Of The Hardest Thing I've Done'
Heidi Allen, Lib Dem MP for South Cambridgeshire, is determined to reform Universal Credit and speak up for people whose voices can't be heard.