One for the memoirs! Katy Perry accused of racism after dressing as a geisha at the AMAs

PUBLISHED: 03:37 EST, 25 November 2013 | UPDATED: 05:22 EST, 25 November 2013

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She thrilled her fans when she dressed as a geisha during a tour of Japan earlier this month.

But Katy Perry has been accused of being racist after wearing an almost identical costume for her opening performance at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

A host of watchers took to Twitter to accuse the popstrel of 'appropriating culture' due to her colourful performance of Unconditionally at the beginning of the show.

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Colourful: But a host of fans took to Twitter to accuse Katy Perry of being racist for performing as a geisha at the AMAs

One viewer called Nathan Hatcher tweeted: 'Oh, good. Katy Perry is dressed as a geisha. I was afraid her sharp vocals would outshine her racism.'

Another offended was Shaina Cooper, who wrote: 'As soon as I turn on the awards, Katy Perry dressed as a geisha...What did we tell y'all about race appropriation smfh.'

One even likened it to Julianne Hough's recent blackface storm when they wrote: 'This is the performance equivalent of an offensive Halloween costume.'

Racist? Katy Perry dresses as a geisha at the AMAs

Shadowy figure: But some viewers were left shocked and offended when it turned out to be the singer

Brolly bad show: The singer was accused of 'cultural appropriation' for her performance of Unconditionally

Twits: These viewers of the show were shocked she had decided to dress in the traditional garb

Of course it may have also been the case that the singer was giving a nod to her fans in Japan, who she visited earlier this month.

In fact, she tweeted a picture of herself in an almost identical outfit along with some genuine Japanese geishas at the time.

At the time she wrote: 'One of these things is not like the other.'

Katy was the only one not wearing the Geisha's famous porcelain figurine makeup, which she adopted for her AMA's performance.

Unhappy memoir for a geisha: Katy may not have happy memories of this after being accused of racism

She would not dare: To behave in such a manner if the Land of the Rising Sun would she?

Yes she would: In fact some genuine geisha girls were delighted to pose with her in Japan earlier this month

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Aleksandr, Moscow, Russia, 53 minutes ago

Looks like some people need to learn the definition of ' racism '. These people always want something to complain about.

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linda, Dublin, 53 minutes ago

How is that racism!!

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lolatheshowgirl, Leicester, United Kingdom, 55 minutes ago

How on earth is this racism? And the geisha girls dancing with her do not seem to think it is??

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lexi, essex, 56 minutes ago

What?!!

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FrannyAdams, Surrey, United Kingdom, 57 minutes ago

Some people are so ridiculously over sensitive these days. They almost go out of their way to find things to be offended by. This is not racist at all, it's just entertainment and she is trying to be creative. Lighten up and get over yourselves people.

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just me, London, 57 minutes ago

that is so sad. I don't see anything racist in it at all. What is wrong with people. There no freedom of anything any more. CRAZY this people need to grow up.

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Maria Elena, Dagenham, United Kingdom, 57 minutes ago

It's incredible that people can be so utterly, utterly stupid and label her wearing Geisha style clothing as racist. Why exactly is it racist? The mind boggles! If anything she is showing her admiration for the culture. Fed up with the P.C. brigade, nobody can so much as move for fear of being called a racist nowadays!