Katy Perry apologises for cultural appropriation in past music video

'I have lots of white privilege'

(Getty)

Katy Perry has apologised appropriating black culture in her past music videos.

During a sit down with Black Lives Matter activist Deray Mckesson, Uproxx reports that the US singer stated she is guilty of cultural appropriation admitting she benefits from white privilege.

Perry, who promoted new record Witness by live-streaming her entire weekend, originally drew criticism for the music video of 2014 single 'This Is How We Do' which showed the singer wearing cornrows and eating a watermelon. She told Mckesson how it was a friend who made her realise how impactful the statement was.

“She told me about the power in black women’s hair and how beautiful it is and the struggle,” Perry said. “I didn’t know that I did it wrong until I heard people saying that I did it wrong. It takes someone to say, out of compassion, out of love, ‘Hey, this is what the origin is.'”

Perry continued: “I listened and I heard and I didn’t know. I won’t ever understand some of those things because of who I am. I will never understand, but I can educate myself and that’s what I’m trying to do along the way.”

Mckessen listened as Perry admitted: “I have lots of white privilege.”

You can hear Perry's words in full below.

Perry, one of the century's most successful recording artists, released fifth record Witness last week.