Entertainment uk celebrityukmusicAvril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne's Japanese-Inspired New Video For Song 'Hello Kitty' Blasted As 'Racist' (VIDEO)

WATCH: Avril Is Turning Japanese In Cringey New Video
Daniel Welsh
|

Avril Lavigne has unveiled the music video for her song ‘Hello Kitty’ and received criticism from fans who have labelled it 'racist' on Twitter.

In the video Avril plays up to the “bratty teenager” image she’s carved for herself over the years - she’s obviously stopped counting the candles on her birthday cake.

Avril's also rocking that undercut hairstyle we all contemplated in 2010 but then wisely decided against, and a cupcake skirt that Nicki Minaj herself would deem “too much”.

Open Image Modal

Avril Lavigne in the 'Hello Kitty' video

Playing up to her large Japanese fan base, the video for the J-pop inspired song also sees Avril chucking in as much lazy Japanese imagery as possible, leaving us half expecting her to ride in on a parade float made of sushi at some point.

With lyrics including “come come, kitty kitty, you’re so pretty, pretty”, ‘Hello Kitty’ is not exactly the most thought-provoking material Avril has ever released - and just when you think it can’t get any worse she throws in a tired dubstep breakdown and really cranks the awfulness.

Needless to say, the video has been panned online, with fiercest critics branding the video as “racist” and accusing Avril of appropriating Japanese culture.

Open Image Modal

We have no words

Fans took to Twitter shorty after the video was revealed, writing comments including: "Is @AvrilLavigne's new video racist? Not sure, waiting to hear the opinions of 4 silent Japanese dancers dressed as identical puppets."

She hit back at allegations of racism on her official Twitter page, tweeting: “RACIST??? LOLOLOL!!!", before going on to express her love of Japanese culture.

Open Image Modal

Avril Lavigne... actually pouting

‘Hello Kitty’ is the latest single to be lifted from Avril’s self-titled fifth album, and it isn’t the only track on the collection to have us reaching for the “off-switch”.

In summary, everything about this is just awful. We can't quite believe it even exists.

Check it out for yourself here - if you dare...

Avril Lavigne's Style Evolution
(01 of21)
Open Image Modal
Singer Avril Lavigne performs on stage during KIIS FM's Jingle Ball Concert at the Arrowhead Pond on December 19, 2002 in Anaheim, California. (credit:Robert Mora/Getty Images)
(02 of21)
Open Image Modal
Singer Avril Lavigne arrives at P. Diddy's MTV Video Music Awards after-party at Show August 28, 2003 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. (credit:Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
(03 of21)
Open Image Modal
Singer Avril Lavigne arrives at the AMC Theater for the screening of 'Avril Lavigne My World' DVD launch in New York City. (credit:Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
(04 of21)
Open Image Modal
Singer Avril Lavigne arrives at the 2004 World Music Awards at the Thomas and Mack Center on September 15, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The World Music Awards are presented annually to the world?s top selling recording-artists in the various music categories and to the best-selling recording artist of the year from each of the major record-buying countries. (credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
(05 of21)
Open Image Modal
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 8: Singer Avril Lavigne attends the Fashion Rocks Concert on September 8, 2004 at Radio City Music Hall to celebrate the relationship between Fashion and Music hosted by Conde Nast, in New York City. (credit:Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
(06 of21)
Open Image Modal
Canadian singer Avril Lavigne performs on the 'Wetten Dass...?' television entertainment show at the Messehalle on February 19, 2005 in Erfurt, Germany. (credit:Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
(07 of21)
Open Image Modal
Recording artist Avril Lavigne attends the Los Angeles premiere of 20th Century Fox's 'Fast Food Nation' at the Egyptian Theater on November 10, 2006 in Hollywood, California. (credit:David Livingston/Getty Images)
(08 of21)
Open Image Modal
Canadian singer / actress Avril Lavigne attends the 'Over The Hedge' premiere at the Palais during the 59th International Cannes Film Festival May 21, 2006 in Cannes, France. (credit:Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
(09 of21)
Open Image Modal
Canadian singer Avril Lavigne poses as she arrives to attend the World Music Awards, 04 November 2007 in Monte-Carlo. (credit:STEPHANE DANNA/AFP/Getty Images)
(10 of21)
Open Image Modal
Avril Lavigne arrives at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007 at the Olympiahalle on November 1, 2007 in Munich, Germany. (credit:Sean Gallup/Getty Images for MTV)
(11 of21)
Open Image Modal
Singer Avril Lavigne (C) poses with RCMP on the red carpet at the 2008 Juno Awards on April 6, 2008 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary Canada. (credit:Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)
(12 of21)
Open Image Modal
Singer Avril Lavigne attends Abbey Dawn by Avril Lavigne showcasing its fall/holiday 2009 collection, available exclusively at Kohl's, at 'STYLE360 at Metropolitan Pavilion North' on September 14, 2009 in New York City. (credit:Craig Barritt/Getty Images)
(13 of21)
Open Image Modal
Singer Avril Lavigne arrives at the 16th Annual Race to Erase MS event themed 'Rock To Erase MS' co-chaired by Nancy Davis and Tommy Hilfiger at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on May 8, 2009 in Century City, California. (credit:Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
(14 of21)
Open Image Modal
Singer Avril Lavigne arrives at the 2010 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 21, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Jason Merritt/Getty Images for DCP)
(15 of21)
Open Image Modal
Musician Avril Lavigne arrives at the 17th Annual Race to Erase MS event co-chaired by Nancy Davis and Tommy Hilfiger at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on May 7, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
(16 of21)
Open Image Modal
In this Aug. 7, 2011 file photo, Avril Lavigne arrives at the Teen Choice Awards in Universal City, Calif. A spokeswoman for Lavigne confirmed a Tues., Aug. 21, 2012 report from People.com that Lavigne and Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger were engaged earlier this month after a six-month courtship. (credit:AP Photo/Dan Steinberg, file)
(17 of21)
Open Image Modal
Avril Lavigne attends the release party for Avril Lavigne's new album 'Goodbye Lullaby' at SL Lounge on March 8, 2011 in New York City. (credit:D Dipasupil/Getty Images)
(18 of21)
Open Image Modal
Avril Lavigne is seen at the Abbey Dawn After Party presented by Vodio, on Monday, Sept. 10, 2012 at Catch, in New York. (credit:Donald Traill/Invision/AP Images)
(19 of21)
Open Image Modal
Singer Avril Lavigne and her husband Chad Kroeger arrive at the 10th Huading Awards ceremony in Macau Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (credit:AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
(20 of21)
Open Image Modal
Singer Avril Lavigne performs onstage during the iheartRadio Music Festival Village on September 21, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (credit:Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel)
(21 of21)
Open Image Modal
Chad Kroeger and Avril Lavigne arrive on the red carpet at the 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards at Bell Media Headquarters on June 16, 2013 in Toronto, Canada. (credit:Jag Gundu/Getty Images)

href="http://www.facebook.com/HuffPostUKEnt"target="_hplink">LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip