Katy Perry has responded after her shoe collection was removed from stores, amid claims that they featured a blackface design.

The line of sandal and loafers were pulled from stores including Walmart after critics argued against the depiction of a face featuring large red lips.

In a statement released to Entertainment Tonight, Perry said she was “saddened” by the backlash.

The singer said: ‘The Rue and The Ora were part of a collection that was released last summer in nine different colourways (black, blue, gold, graphite, lead, nude, pink, red, silver) and envisioned as a nod to modern art and surrealism.

She added: ‘I was saddened when it was brought to my attention that it was being compared to painful images reminiscent of blackface. Our intention was never to inflict any pain. We have immediately removed them.”

The design was originally released in August 2018, although it was only picked up by singer Masika Kalysha earlier this month.

A spokesperson for the Katy Perry Collection previously told TMZ: “In order to be respectful and sensitive the team is in the process of pulling the shoes.”

 

It comes only a week after Gucci withdrew a black polo necked jumper featuring red lips that were designed to be worn over the face.