Katy Perry to Initiate Concert Performances in Mainland China After Taiwan Controversy Hiatus
Fresh Take:
Pop sensation Katy Perry is gearing up to perform in China's Hangzhou, marking her return to the mainland after a long hiatus, following a controversy over her 2015 concert in Taiwan.
At 40, Perry, who recently made a splash with a brief space voyage, is all set to rock an 18,000-seat stadium with her power-packed performances on Nov 21 and 22. The announcement was made by Zhejiang province's culture and tourism bureau [1].
This transit comes eight years after Perry was rumored to have been barred from attending a Victoria's Secret fashion show in Shanghai in 2017 [2]. The Chinese government has never acknowledged these reports, but US celebrity news outlets suggested that Perry's run-in with Taiwan's sunflower-themed controversy might have been the reason behind it [1][2].
Famously known as the "fruit sister" among Chinese fans, Perry will join an elite list of Western pop stars and bands who have managed to secure a spot in China amid tightening performance restrictions [1].
Past reports mentioned Hangzhou's interest in inviting Taylor Swift, while Shanghai officials regarded Swift as a potential economic booster, encouraging relaxation of international performance restrictions to stir spending among the youth [1].
Memorable moments in China's entertainment scene include OneRepublic's rare appearance on the Lunar New Year gala in January 2022, just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping's phone call with then-US President Donald Trump [3]. Additionally, Ed Sheeran performed six sold-out shows in Hangzhou in February, while Imagine Dragons gave performances in Hangzhou and Shenzhen earlier in 2022 [3].
[1] The news of Katy Perry's upcoming performance in China comes eight years after she was rumored to have been denied entry due to controversy over her 2015 concert in Taiwan.
[2] The controversy over Perry's Taiwan concert stemmed from her wearing a dress featuring the sunflower symbol, which was seen as a representation of a student movement opposing a trade pact between Taiwan and mainland China.
[3] OneRepublic and Imagine Dragons' performances in China followed American band OneRepublic's rare appearance on China's Lunar New Year gala, which took place days after Chinese President Xi Jinping's phone call with US President Donald Trump in January 2022.
- Katy Perry's confirmed performance in Hangzhou, China marks her return to the mainland after a controversy over her 2015 concert in Taiwan, where she wore a dress featuring the sunflower symbol, a representation of a student movement.
- In Shenzhen, Ed Sheeran and Imagine Dragons have previously given performances, adding to the growing list of Western pop stars who have managed to secure a spot in China amid tightening performance restrictions.
- Western celebrities such as Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, amongst others, have been seen as potential economic boosters, with Shanghai officials encouraging relaxation of international performance restrictions to stir spending among the youth.
- The entertainment industry in China has seen numerous memorable moments, with acts like OneRepublic performing on the Lunar New Year gala, following a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and then-US President Donald Trump in January 2022.
- The news of Katy Perry's upcoming performance in China comes in the context of general-news reporting, where celebrity news, music, politics, and entertainment often intersect and influence each other, keeping the public informed and engaged.
