'Blasphemous' Bit Erased From Katy Perry's 'Dark Horse' Clip Following Internet Outcry
Apparently signing an Internet petition can actually achieve a desired result.
Katy Perry's video for her chart-topping song "Dark Horse" has been edited to remove an Arabic reference deemed blasphemous by a Change.org petition.
[Related: See 8 Incredible GIFs from Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" Video]
Shazad Iqbal, 22, posted the complaint, demanding that the video be removed from YouTube. "At 01:15 into the video Dark Horse; a man is shown being burned, whilst wearing a pendant (also burned) forming the word 'Allah,' which is the Arabic word for God," he wrote.
Iqbal describes Perry's Cleopatra-inspired persona as an opposition to God that "engulfs the believer and the word God in flames."
Perry's video went online a week ago. The petition followed a few days later and has received more than 60,000 supporters. On Wednesday, Iqbal and his supporters declared victory: A new version of Perry's video uploaded to her YouTube and Vevo channels has digitally scrubbed the offending pendant.
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Iqbal credits the petition with prompting the change.
"We couldn't have done it without everyone's support so I thank each and every one of your deeply, our voices have been heard!" Iqbal wrote.
Perry dismissed any ill intent in a statement, saying she was "just trying to give a beautiful performance about a place I have so much love for … with no other thought besides it."
The controversy has received mixed reactions on Twitter:
The idea that Katy Perry meant to insult Islam in her new video 'Dark Horse' is ludicrous http://t.co/nEacf3fTDk
— The Independent (@Independent) February 27, 2014
Katy Perry burning the name of Allah in her dark horse video, Muslims report this video on youtube! get it banned! pic.twitter.com/tMlDb8SyP8
— Selfie King (@WomanizingPrick) February 22, 2014