A few days ago, Avril Lavigne dropped her new single and music video on the unsuspecting world. I didn’t watch the video on Tuesday, and I only got around to watching it on Wednesday after I saw that Avril was being criticized and that #avrilracist was trending on Twitter. So, let’s get into it. First, here’s the video for “Hello Kitty”. I managed to get 57 seconds in before I had to shut it off. See how far you can get.
The lyrics are stupid. The clothes look like Dollar Store versions of Katy Perry’s Cupcake-Boobs-and-Glitter-Vadge costumes. The Skrillex hair seems exhausted. But are there bigger problems beyond “this is a stupid song and a terrible video”? Yep.
This actually reminds me a lot of some of the problems Gwen Stefani had several years back, when she was doing her solo work and she had her “Harajuku Girls” following her around for every appearance. Margaret Cho called out Gwen at the time, making some basic points of: Asian women are not props, and having a white woman stand in front of a group of Asian women dressed up in caricature-esque costumes is pretty racist. Avril seems to be doing the exact same thing. She’s using some Asian women as props. And it is stupidly racist.
Incidentally, not many people are talking about this, but the video for Jason Derulo’s “Talk Dirty” is also pretty offensive and anti-Asian. The video begins and ends with an Asian woman speaking in stereotypically pidgin English.
Update: Avril responded on Twitter: “RACIST??? LOLOLOL!!! I love Japanese culture and I spend half of my time in Japan. I flew to Tokyo to shoot this video…specifically for my Japanese fans, WITH my Japanese label, Japanese choreographers AND a Japanese director IN Japan.”
Photos courtesy of WENN, Avril’s Twitter.
I always forget that Avril Lavigne is no longer seventeen. This video is embarassing and sad.
I’m not that familiar with her music, Dani. Could she ever sing? This was awful.
I think she has a decent voice underneath it all, but Goodnames there’s no need to ever familiarize yourself with her music. Ever.
I haven’t listened to any of her stuff in YEARS but I loved her first two albums (bear in mind I was twelve at the time) but I think she has an okay voice, not amazing but not bad at all. I just feel like she still thinks she’s a teen which is embarassing seeing as she’s closer to thirty.
@GoodNames
I loved her around the time of her first album, but I was a tween back then, so it says a lot.
This video is… I have no words. It’s like a foretelling of the apocalypse.
Hahaha I know!! I did hear some of her new stuff and it wasnt that good.
Not really gonna touch the ‘using Asian women as props’ bc gwen had her gals and so did Fergi
Haha that’s funny. I was just going to pop on here to point out that she’s 29. Apparently she’s forgotten that she’s not 17, as well.
Kaiser, thank you for this article! I hate the Intro and Outro to Derulo’s “Talk dirty to me!”. It’s racist and sexist -.-
I don’t mind Jason Derulo. He is very talented. But yes I agree, it’s 2014 and he or his producers should know better. I saw him perform that song on Ellen last week and they had what appeared to be an Indian girl with an Indian outfit and bindi on. She mouthed the words at the end of the song (in a Chinese accent). It’s like at least get her “Asians” right ! Either way, it’s not nice to mock people’s accents like that.
28 seconds.
How can people still be so insensitive to these types of issues? It makes me tired.
45 seconds. That was torture
+1
59, y’all. I must have high tolerance level.
Lol.
I made it through the whole stupid thing.
It should be just a fun, stupid pop song. But the lyrics are so over the top bad, and Chad co-‘wrote’ it, that it takes away from whatever fun I may have just listening to the sort of danceable music.
1:14
Like a train wreck, I couldn’t look away.
I watched the whole thing hoping it would get better or at least stop being awful. But it never happened. Where do I start? The ’90’s called and it wants its hair, fashion and music back? Or bad lyrics, bad music that hurts your ears and brain? Or lipstick lesbian overtures in a lame effort to be “edgy”? I have three of her CD’s but it is now time for her to go away. She is so close to being a casino act (and downmarket from Las Vegas IMO).
Guys. I watched the WHOLE THING. I don’t know how I did it. Maybe because I haven’t finished my coffee so by brain hasnt switched on yet.
Soooooo awful. So twitchy.
I watched it all the way through and the only thing on my mind was “what hello kitty?”
36 seconds. Christ that was horrible!
But on a more serious note, I think we’re all a little too quick to shout “Dats racist!” these days! If she filmed the music video in Japan, then it makes sense that she would hire Japanese backing dancers and extras. Unless I missed something offensive after the 40 seconds.
*mutes the video and goes back and watches it*
Nah, I don’t see anything offensive here. As I understand it, Avril Lavigne is big in Japan and the song is related to a Japanese product so why not film in that country and celebrate the culture even if she is a white Canadian. It would be different if these Japanese girls were giggling stereotypically or being over the top “cute” but they’re like any backing dancer, they just silently revolve around the singer. They’re props to an extent but props the way backing dancers of any race are, when the singer is the main star.
Now if Lavigne used these Japanese girls in all her performances like Gwen Stefani was doing a few years ago or Miley Cyrus does with black people, then I’d see an issue. Particularly if she did what Gwen Stefani did on Jonathan Ross a few years ago when she brought on a silent troop of Harajuku Girls who weren’t allowed to interact with anyone or react to anyone. That was cringeworthy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlvZ5h0qm0g (skip to 8 minutes)
If she filmed it in Japan and simply hired Japanese backup dancers then I can cut her a little slack. Maybe not racist then but still cringeworthy.
I remember that Gwen Stefani appearance. I had to turn it off I was so mad.
I have to agree with Seán, I think they are just backup dancers. Are we now allowed to use only the same race, like PSY can have asian dancers and Avril can’t?
I think Miley with her little people is more inappropriate.
And is it me, or does Avril really resemble Kristen Stewart in this video?
I’m with you Sean.
It’s not racist. She was in Japan, making a video for a song about a Japanese product, using a Japanese director, label and choreographer and backup dancers. That’s not racist. That’s making a video for a select group of uber fans. We westerns don’t get it-that’s fine. But calling everything discriminatory and racist is getting old.
Thank you! If anything I’m more pissed at white people telling other races what they should be offended by.
Glad to see I’m not the only one who didn’t find that offensive in the slightest.
Seán,
I love you for posting that. Totally agree.
I find the line “like a fat kid on a pack of smarties” far more offensive than the use of local background dancers.
agree!
That’s as far as I got in the song.
That video was budget. What a missed opportunity to wear the kitten and ice cream clothes from JapanLA.
I watched it and thought. “Totally what Robin Sparkles would do!”
Silly Canadians….
Hahhahahaahhahha
I just came here to talk about Chad Kroeger’s face. *giggles*
Hahahah I know right? Cleaning up does not suit him at all
I kind of miss his top ramen hair.
He could be the sweetest guy on the planet but will always get pegged as a douche based on that face.
Yeah, that chin beard is pretty hideous.
You know, honestly, I am much less offended by the Asian stereotypes than by how goddamn stupid and awful this song is. My poor ears.
^^ this!!
I agree. Props are nothing new in videos. The women could have easily been black, white, kids, etc. The video is just horrible. It’s something you would expect from a brand new artist not somebody who’s b/c-list.
Cringe worthy.
Let’s do it! Or would that lower us to their level? Can we at least pick out the men, then decide it’s beneath us? Lol
I suddenly need to yell at somebody.
lol! You can yell at me if you want. 😉
Yeah it’s a terrible song, but it’s not like she pulled the theme out of the air – Hello Kitty IS Japanese and cartoonish and pink and cupcakes. If there HADN’T been those elements in the video and all the dancers were white, people would be complaining about the “westernisation” of a Japanese product. Ironically, Kitty’s surname is “White”.
Then you could argue that a Japanese singer should do the theme tune, but then they probably wouldn’t have the same broad appeal (and I use the term loosely) of Avril LV.
It’s an unwinnable situation!
Agreed- and I haaaate to say she has a point that it seemed she was “invited” ino the culture and followed the lead of this around her who were Japanese. That said when someone says, “her I think this is racist.” You any do much worse than mock it and laugh- had she acknowledged the sentiment and explained how she was in fact respectful it likely would have one over better.
Actually, Hello Kitty started in Britain.
(Which I found out by playing Hello Kitty monopoly. I’m cool like that.)
http://www.hellokittyuniverse.com/m/page/Hello+Kitty+Biography
The Dlisted piece on this atrocity had me crying with laughter.
My 10-year-old daughter and her friends will like this. Perhaps that’s the North American target demographic.
Also, totally not offensive. Gwen Stefani (who I love, so no judgement here) cornered the offensive-to-Japanese-culture market in 2004 with her L.A.M.B album, and her Harajuku Girls.
Totally right about Gwen Stefani. My partner and I call them Gwen’s Ethnic pets. Gwen would trot around the world with her troupe of pets, weird.
I saw this and instantly went back to gwen stefani’s hollaback girl video. I dont think there was a big controversy over that video at the time because everyone loved Gwen Stefani. No one likes Avril Lavigne.
I was friends with one of the Harajuku girls. She takes pride in being one despite the criticisms.
The only good thing about that video are those fab turquoise specs. Which of course most spec-wearers know better than to buy as their “primary” everyday set, but they’re cute for a fake-specs day on the vid set.
Yes! I liked them too
How old is she now….? Her music hasn’t matured at all since she started. Her target audience still seems to be middle schoolers.
Her first big thing was in 2002 – I was 12. Which explains why I LOOOOVED that album and played it to death. I thought she was just so tough and cool, and she was Canadian to boot!
Then I grew up.
And apparently, she still hasn’t.
Same here. Loved that first album! And what an embarassment is she now.
Bitch gon’ be 30 this year. As trashy as she is, I have to say, I wish I’d look as youthful as her when I’m 30. she’s a freakin vampire!
didn’t JLo make such a vid recently?
She did. She’s kinda awesome for that.
Well. That was awkward and sad. Do they have Razzies for music videos? If so, we have a winner.
This!
I think I just watched someone’s acid trip. Only lasted 1 minute
Avril Lavigne?
Geez, she still prances around like some faux punk teeny?
Hey Avril, Cheerleader tryouts were 15 years ago, act your age.
The Jason Sudeikis J-Pop America Fun-time Now skit is funny:
https://screen.yahoo.com/j-pop-talk-show-japanese-000000156.html
Avril Lavigne’s “skit” is not funny. It’s offensive content-wise and an ear-bleeder of a “song” (note: I only lasted 20 seconds before shutting off the vid).
She’s nuts if she thought for one moment that this was in any way good.
I mean, yea she’s using the dancers as ‘props’ I guess. But I also listen to alot of J-pop and this is TOTALLY the sound/lyrics/overall look of alot of their big name lady pop stars. Esp the sound, I could instantly hear the j-pop influence, but it really really doesn’t translate well to English.
To me, this screams of being a rip off of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoK8DaJRDaM
My 19-month old son loves Kyary Pamyu Pamyu videos for being ludicrous and fun. He regularly sings and dances along to them. He also quite likes Hello Kitty and the colour pink, and girls. So, in great anticipation (why did I bother?!) we started watching this. He stared at it for about half a minute, then started screaming and shoved the remote into my hands as if to say “quick, change the goddamn channel!”
So we lasted a minute. I didn’t find it racist but I did find it offensive nonetheless. She’s singing in Japanese, my arse! “Everone’s great! Thank you, kawaii (cute)!” makes no sense whatsoever. And oh my ears…I really want to unhear it.
Horrible “music”. Not racist. Contemporary Japanese culture is globalized. My 15 year old cosplays characters from her favorite anime/manga all the time.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uHYSTgCqE6k
Here you go!
What did you expect from her？she still acts like she’s 16.
Lainey, Michael K., and Jezebel had the best scathing critiques. Nothing more to add than asking isn’t she exhausted pretending to be punk for the past 12 years?
I think I had that black zip-up dress thingy she’s wearing in 1987.
What the fuq did I just watch o_O
God.
Who exactly IS her target audience?
I seriously cannot believe she is years older than me, in fact she’s almost thirty – and she’s STILL pulling this faux-punk shit – like it’s still 2002.
I’m cringing for her.
I find it sad that this chick is 30 (or nearing it) and is still selling music to the teeny bopper crowd.
I honestly don’t understand why she flew to Japan to make this video. She could have filmed it in LA as she has zero scenes of any Japanese landmarks or tourist spots, etc. The whole video is in a candy store or Japanese restaurant. Since she did film it in Japan, one would expect the dancers to be Japanese. It would be more racist to have brought “white” dancers with her from the U.S. wouldn’t it? The director was Japanese. People need to research Japanese pop culture and you will see this video is pretty tame compared to what’s trendy there. I don’t see her mocking Japanese culture at all. There is going to come a point where people are going to be too afraid to explore other cultures or partake in fun things/cultural clothing/food/etc. of any other culture because it will be called “racist”. I think we all need to go back to the dictionary and read the definition of the word again. But on another note, I have no right to say what someone else might find offensive.
I tried watching it with my five year old daughter who is very open and lenient in her music choices…she rocks out to the Doodle bops… and even she wasn’t impressed. At all. Now you know a video is bad when it doesn’t appeal to a five year old girl despite having cupcakes, candy and cute turquoise glasses. We made it through the whole video but at the end she declared, “Mommy, that was howwible!”
Poor Avril, what a Peter Pan.
I don’t feel too sorry for Avril. She’s made her millions and could easily retire. She does have a good voice (not in this song though). I don’t know what direction she’s trying to go in but she never tried to mature with her audience. She’s still trying to appeal to tweens. It’s just not working.
She needs to get over the tweeny punk-pop obsession, and foster some relationships with real Punk musicians. I think she has a decent voice, and with the right connections and mentors, could forge a nice career in the true Punk genre.
I think Avril has a decent voice. She is also a pretty woman. Maybe she is no longer trying to sell albums in the US. Maybe she is trying to appeal to the Asian market. If you look at some of the female Asian artists (Hyuna, Miss A) they tend to film girly videos like this. That culture seems okay with women dressing and appearing more girlish.And you can sell big in those markets. Just a thought.
14 year old kids…that’s her Target Audience since the 2000s
yes. all i can think , “ugh, Avril Lavine is such a tool.”
I don’t think video is racist. She was in Japan and had Japanese dancers in her video. People are making a big deal out of nothing IMO.
What is offensive here is the fact that two adults over 30 wrote this crap.
Yegads the song is atrocious and yeah, using Asian women as props is stupid and perhaps racist. Who’s managing this woman’s career because she needs to fire them stat. Jesus, my ears are still bleeding.
Yes, the use of dancers is pretty offensive. Personally, I’m offended by the cheap production values. She wears ONE (garbage-y) OUTFIT. There are like two “sets” that are really just existing stores they commandeered for the shoot.
Let’s get real here: Avril and Chad probably just wanted a free trip to Japan. They spent about 5 minutes between them coming up with a song and video concept that is basically just “Japan! Yay!” to make it happen. This video is cheap as hellllllllll because they just needed to knock it out and then go shopping or give each other facelifts or whatever those two creeps do for fun.
Canada’s Will and Kate, ladies and gentlemen.
In Japanese culture you keep your emotions to yourself if you don’t quite warm up to/know or understand a person.
So, how is Avril’s use of emotionless dancers offensive? I’m so shocked at how little some people know about Japanese culture.
The racism card is kinda moot on this video. The “emotionless” dancers are actually keeping true to their heritage.
They love their own people as their FOCUS. Now i know that is taboo is a world hell-bent to ruin the entire planet with political correctness and a loath of people/races actually caring for each other…..
People going to hate on Jewish people loving their own family ? Oy Vey!
So I guess you can’t be racist if you like Japan. Sigh. I don’t expect much from her, she’s like 30 right? And she hasn’t changed much since she was 16.
Some people are racist because of ignorance. This is why we need education on what is and is not offensive/racist.
Awful, but dammit that beat is catchy.
It’s like a more annoying Ke$ha song…. I didn’t think that was possible.
This song sounds so dated and a step back for her at her age.
I nearly shut it off at 15, but made it to 58 seconds. My brain hurts now. I don’t know what to call it, but it is NOT music. Although I never understood the appeal of that girl to begin with.
When David Bowie did “China Girl” to open the market for china sales, no one called him a racist.
I don’t know what TMZ’s stupid rant is about racism (maybe the site is just trying to divert the spotlight at how utterly sexist / racist TMZ comes across every day………..or maybe TMZ hates Japan.
I have family that speaks Japanese, and she showed a lot of repect in using their native tongue in the song.
Japan loves things compact, cute (they live in close quarters). I think it’s a nice fit for Avril and Japan. Japan love their own people and are very honorable (omg gasp)how DARE they! **sarcasm
The video was put together by Japanese producers.
I disagree. I’m Japanese (born and spent a part of my childhood there). I found her use of crap language inserted in her ‘song’ almost equally as offensive as Japanese pop/rock acts inserting random nonsensical English words in their songs.
The natives in question were mostly not offended (according to a few sites and forums) and generally seemed bemused by the Western media creating a fuss. Most unanimously agreed the music was terrible, and some even said they had a problem with her pronunciation of Hello Kitty – apparently it does sound like ‘hara-kiri’.
Had never heard of this song or the Derulo song before today. Never has a cluster headache before today, either.
Well.. that was .. ummmm.. absolutely terrible!!
I’m embarrassed that its 2014 and Avril Lavigne is a topic of conversation. And that she’s still apparently making “music”.
Yes, and no man who likes to have sex with women can possibly be sexist. That’s the level Lavigne’s argument is on.
According to Google, she is 29 years old. Wow. Being a star at a young age really does stunt people’s growth terribly.
That song was terrible! Terrible! How is that kind of screechy wailey noise classed as “music” goes beyond me! That was what I found offensive.
But I didn’t think the music video was racist. I worry sometimes that extreme political correctness is being forced upon us.
I’m South East Asian. I watched a video of Iggy Azalea “Bounce”…..I thought it was a great song and video. She wears a sari and dances with Indian people and rides an elephant. The culture and costumes shown in the video are very similar to mine but I didn’t find her dancing like that in the least offensive. Has anyone else watched that music video? Did she catch flack for being “racist”? I didn’t it was racist at all either…..
I just recently saw that video and I liked it ! It was not offensive (at least not to me anyways). What I got from the video is that she really likes Indian culture and travelled to India to make the video as authentic as possible. By the way, she looked amazing in her sari !
It’s one of those situations where if you even have to ask the question, you know the answer… So yeah.
Also, she does sound like a screaming cat so at least the song title is appropriate..
Iggy Australia is the biggest cultural appropriator. Everything about her has been completely manufactured and packaged to appeal to a more mainstream and less urbanized audience. She was never an artist or interested in music she’s a product and her music is trash (imo).
Yes, of course the best way to field accusations of racism is with “LOLOLOL!!!” My, what finely-tuned sensitivity and awareness that woman displays.
Avril always *has* struck me as an a–hole. No change in that impression today.
well i made it through the whole thing.
I don’t think it’s right for us to tell the Japanese how to feel about this. And that’s exactly what this whole “omg racist” thing is about.
She’s no worse than your average bad anime cosplayer. Catgirls, appropriately enough.
Is Avril making some sort of unsupportable generalization about ALL Japanese people here?
No, she’s just being dumb.
What’s next? I’m racist for owning Sailor Moon dolls?
She shot the vid in Japan! Would you rather she import white dancers for a Japanese shoot? Because THAT would be racist.
Avril is just being dumb. I bet the crew were quietly laughing at her the whole time.
This is not Gwen Stefani and her highly racist setup.
and now i’m probably imparting waaay to much insight to Avril.. but wouldn’t it be funny if this was her poking fun at herself and fellow Westerners and typical tourist behavior? with her jumping all over and the dancers so stoic faced?
One of my brother’s assignments on his class trip to Japan was to go to Kyoto just to watch all the tourists. he said he felt ashamed to be a Westerner afterwards.
unrelated note… wow who does her facials? She’s how old?!?!? Vampire!
http://kotaku.com/avril-lavignes-latest-video-isnt-racist-but-it-is-disa-1566973606/all