Multiple sources reveal that the 'Swish Swish' singer is banned from entering the communist country following her sunflower dress controversy back in 2015.
- Nov 17, 2017
AceShowbiz - The 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which will be held on November 21 in Shanghai, continues facing crisis. Following Gigi Hadid and several other models, Katy Perry, who is booked as the musical act at the event, is reportedly banned from entering China and will not be able to perform at the event.
Multiple sources told Page Six that Perry was initially informed that she would be able to gain access to enter the communist country. However, her visa was denied by the government official when she tried applying it. "She was initially granted a visa to perform at the VS show in Shanghai, then Chinese officials changed their minds and yanked her visa," a source explained.
The change in decision came after the government found out about controversy surrounding Perry back in 2015, in which she dressed in a glittery dress with sunflowers on it during a performance in Taiwan. Her outfit caused outrage as the flower is believed to be a symbol of anti-China protesters. The controversy turned worse when it was found that the "Swish Swish" hitmaker waved a Taiwanese flag during her show in support of the country, which has been clashing with China for years.
Katy Perry angers China with Sunflower dress & Taiwan flag💥https://t.co/QwYty44Jzg#KatyPerry #Chinese #Taiwan pic.twitter.com/iOd9bpnJ1f
— ➊AlexCam ⏩ (@1alexcam) 30 April 2015
Perry and the brand's models were not the only ones who are banned from entering China. It has also been reported that fashion bloggers who are booked to cover the annual show are canceling their trips as Chinese government won't hand them visas. To make things worse, the show's staff can't send out press releases as it has to be approved by the government officials.
"It's just a nightmare for all the media trying to cover [the show]," an insider told Page Six. "These TV companies are spending a fortune on it, and they don't even know what they can shoot when they get there." The insider added that the producers in charge of coordinating the coverage were "on the verge of nervous breakdowns."
