Katy Perry Wears Controversial Sunflower Costume In Taiwan, But Is It Really A Pro-Taiwan Symbol?

Katy Perry may have caused a diplomatic incident with one of her stage costumes. The 30-year-old singer was performing in Taipei, Taiwan on Monday (27th April) when she appeared in one of her eccentric stage costumes which featured large sunflowers. In any other country the costume would not have attracted any comment but the sunflower is significant in Taiwan and some fans have taken Perry's costume to be a pro-Taiwanese symbol.

Katy Perry's choice of costume has sparked controversy.

The sunflower is associated with the Sunflower Student Movement which occupied Taiwan's parliament for 23 days between March 18th and April 10th 2014. The group were protesting the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement which they believed would give mainland China too much control over Taiwan's economic affairs, as E! reports. The protesters, showing solidarity with the students in the parliamentary building, carried sunflowers as a sign of hope and thus the movement was named after the flower.

Upon seeing footage and images of Perry whilst at the concert, a number of bloggers and activists from both Taiwan and China have weighed in on whether Perry's costume really was intended as a pro-Taiwanese symbol. One blogger, as Quartz reports, fervently believed Perry was making a statement and claimed Perry was 'annoying' as she was 'interfering' in the business of another country. Whilst others claimed Perry was completely to oblivious to the meaning of the sunflower as a symbol in Taiwan.

Whether or not Perry was wearing the sunflower dress as a symbol of solidarity is difficult to ascertain as Perry has not referred to the costume or the backlash online. It appears the costume choice was simply unintentional as Perry has worn the costume before and she even appeared unaware of the even the language spoken in Taiwan.

"I don't even know how to speak Mandarin," Perry reportedly said to the audience. "That's what you speak, right?"

This certainly doesn't suggest Perry is necessarily au fait with Taiwanese culture or politics! She also wore the official flag of Taiwan, that of China, whilst wearing the outfit which does not show any affinity with Taiwan independence.