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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/music/shortcuts/2017/nov/17/katy-perry-ban-china-fruit-sister-taiwan
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| Why China has had enough of 'Fruit Sister' Katy Perry | Why China has had enough of 'Fruit Sister' Katy Perry |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Name: Katy Perry | Name: Katy Perry |
| Age: 33. | |
| Appearance: Blond at the time of going to press. | Appearance: Blond at the time of going to press. |
| She changes her look a lot? Possibly hourly. | She changes her look a lot? Possibly hourly. |
| Occupation: Singer, songwriter, actor. | Occupation: Singer, songwriter, actor. |
| Where does she ply her trade? Anywhere and everywhere. Except China. | Where does she ply her trade? Anywhere and everywhere. Except China. |
| What’s she got against China? Nothing. She’s banned. The Chinese authorities have reportedly refused Perry a visa to perform at a forthcoming Victoria’s Secret fashion show in Shanghai. | What’s she got against China? Nothing. She’s banned. The Chinese authorities have reportedly refused Perry a visa to perform at a forthcoming Victoria’s Secret fashion show in Shanghai. |
| What did she do to upset them? She wore a glittery dress with sunflowers all over it. | What did she do to upset them? She wore a glittery dress with sunflowers all over it. |
| You mean she was banned on grounds of taste? Not exactly. The dress, which she wore during a 2015 concert in Taipei, appeared to support Taiwanese anti-China protesters, who have a sunflower as their emblem. | You mean she was banned on grounds of taste? Not exactly. The dress, which she wore during a 2015 concert in Taipei, appeared to support Taiwanese anti-China protesters, who have a sunflower as their emblem. |
| Was she trying to be politically provocative? Probably not – the dress had featured in prior shows on the tour – but then she went on to wear a Republic of China – ie Taiwan – flag as a cape. | Was she trying to be politically provocative? Probably not – the dress had featured in prior shows on the tour – but then she went on to wear a Republic of China – ie Taiwan – flag as a cape. |
| And the People’s Republic wasn’t happy. They don’t recognise the republic and claim Taiwan as their territory. They’re pretty touchy about that sort of thing. | |
| Have any other entertainers been banned from China? Oh my, yes. Maroon 5 were forced to scrap two concerts in 2015, reportedly after their keyboard player sent a birthday tweet to the Dalai Lama. | |
| Whoops. Lady Gaga was refused entry to China because of her support for Tibet, as were Björk and Oasis. Justin Bieber has also been banned. | |
| What did he get banned for? Non-specific idiocy. | What did he get banned for? Non-specific idiocy. |
| Fair enough. Does Perry have a big following in China? She does. Among her Chinese fanbase she is known affectionately as “Fruit Sister”. | |
| Why do they call her that? Due to her habit of wearing fruit-themed costumes on stage, and performing with outsize fruit-shaped props. | Why do they call her that? Due to her habit of wearing fruit-themed costumes on stage, and performing with outsize fruit-shaped props. |
| Does she care if she never goes to China again? It would mean a cut in income – China is a huge market for western entertainers. | Does she care if she never goes to China again? It would mean a cut in income – China is a huge market for western entertainers. |
| What are her chances of getting a visa in the future? Never say never. In July the Chinese culture bureau said: “We hope Justin Bieber is able to improve his conduct as he grows up and will once again find public favour.” | What are her chances of getting a visa in the future? Never say never. In July the Chinese culture bureau said: “We hope Justin Bieber is able to improve his conduct as he grows up and will once again find public favour.” |
| Do say: “Perry deserves the right to free political expression, however inadvertent.” | Do say: “Perry deserves the right to free political expression, however inadvertent.” |
| Don’t say: “Stick to fruit, sister.” | Don’t say: “Stick to fruit, sister.” |