Katy Perry 'Dark Horse' video reedited after it offends Muslims

February 28, 2014|By Randy Lewis

Singer Katy Perry, shown performing in London for the BRIT Awards on Feb.… (Ian Gavan / Getty Images )

Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” video has been reedited to remove a quick scene that has generated outcry among some in the Muslim community.

The scene in dispute showed a suitor being disintegrated, along with a pendant he was wearing that spelled out “Allah” (the Arabic word for “God”).

A Change.org petition posted by Shazad Iqbal of Bradford, England, lobbied for YouTube to remove the video. But it was reedited to digitally remove the Allah medallion, and that version is now posted on YouTube and Vevo.

“The video is considered as highly controversial to its viewers as a result of its portrayal of blasphemy,” the petition stated.

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In making the video, whose location is identified as Memphis, Egypt, “a crazy long time ago ... ,” Perry said in a statement that she was “just trying to give a beautiful performance about a place I have so much love for ... with no other thought besides it.”

Iqbal credited the petition, which received more than 65,000 signatures, with resulting in the removal of the imagery that had offended some viewers.

"We couldn't have done it without everyone's support,” he wrote, “so I thank each and every one of you deeply, our voices have been heard!"

The “Dark Horse” video has received more than 44 million views since it was released a week ago.

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