Popstar Anne-Marie has apologised for the “hurt” caused by her appearance on ITV’s Saturday Night Takeaway after presenters Ant and Dec wore headbands emblazoned with the Japanese Rising Sun flag during a martial arts performance.
The British artist, 28, criticised the choice of costumes afterwards, telling her 679,000 Twitter followers: “Unfortunately, education on this part of the history wasn’t done.” The 2002 singer, who is also a karate expert, performed a song on the show alongside the presenting duo, who wore white tunics and bandanas featuring the image.
Japan’s Rising Sun flag, a red disc from which 16 red rays emanate on a white background, is seen by some as a symbol of Japan’s imperialist past.
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