Chances are you’ve probably encountered or know someone who wears clothing or accessories from a culture that isn’t their own. Have you ever done it? Most people would say they haven’t and claim that it is offensive to the people whose culture it belongs to. On the other hand, however, there are many who see no problem with doing this. In fact, some of them are celebrities. From Katy Perry and Selena Gomez to Kylie Jenner and even Beyonce, lots of performers have been susceptible to cultural appropriation. Why is it that these influential celebrities feel the need to embellish their performance or appearance by using someone else’s culture? The answer is easy: ignorance. Ignorance fuels performers decision to culturally appropriate without knowing what the consequences could be.

In 2013, Katy Perry was set to perform at the Video Music Awards where she dressed as a Japanese geisha. People were naturally infuriated with the incident and promptly pointed out that she was not Japanese. She then took to an interview to apologize saying, “I listened, and I heard, and I didn’t know and I won’t ever understand some of those things because of who I am.” She further states, “I will never understand, but I can educate myself, and that’s what I’m trying to do along the way.” In this message you can see the ways that Katy Perry is working to acknowledge how celebrities, who may or may not have had the creative control in their performances, may not understand what they are doing before the damage is done.

There are also some celebrities who have different opinions on what is acceptable and what is not. Selena Gomez said in an interview, after she was accused of cultural appropriation for wearing Indian themed garb and bindis, “I have learned a lot about the culture, and I think it is beautiful. I think it is fun to incorporate that into the performance.” Fun. That is the one word that should not have been used. Why should she get to wear bindis and saris while performing when she has no relation to the Indian culture? Celebrities have seem to have forgotten that they have a platform that an average person does not and therefore also have an audience. They might not realize that whatever they say, do or believe, many people know about and many times are influenced.

Ignorance fuels appropriation and gives it the fire it needs to continue to affect millions of people all around sitting at home trying to appreciate a performance. Performances, like the one done by Selena, wasn’t one that needed all the theatrics. Her performance would’ve and could’ve been amazing without the garb and bindis. All these performers have to know is that they do not need to put on other cultural costumes to entertain us and they certainly do not need to do it without knowledge of what they are doing first.

Young performers look up to these celebrities, looking for inspiration on how to act and perform and they shouldn’t feel inclined to follow the choices. All young performers need to know: don’t choose to potentially offend someone else by wearing another cultures’ clothing and styles. There will be consequences for your actions, if not for you then for your fans.

Carley, Brennan. “A Very Recent History of Celebrity Cultural Appropriation.” Vulture. N.p., 05 June 2014. Web.

Samantha Benitz. “8 Celebs Slammed For Cultural Appropriation: Kylie Jenner, Katy Perry & More.” Hollywood Life. N.p., 14 Apr. 2017. Web.

Staff, Teen Vogue. “7 Times Celebrities Were SLAMMED for Cultural Appropriation.” Teen Vogue.