Pop star with a conscience?…asks Keren Cook
I must admit when I saw pop star legend Katy Perry had recently visited Auschwitz death camp, I was surprised and impressed, all at once.
Who would have thought that Perry, 30, would take time out of her busy global tour “Prismatic” to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau?
A pop star with a conscience – refreshing.
Katy Perry: Instagram
“My heart was heavy today.
For ever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity, where the Nazi murdered about one and a half million men, women and children mainly Jews from various countries of Europe.
Auschwitz – Birkenau
1940-1945 “The one that does not remember history is bound to live through it again”
It was only eight weeks ago that Perry visited New Zealand offering two shows only at Vector Arena, on the back of selling an incredible 23 shows for her 2014 Australian tour.
The Kiwis loved Perry, and the critic Marty Duda raved in the 13th floor: “It was truly spectacular…a sensory overload in the best possible way.”
Our very own Prime Minister John Key took time out of his busy schedule to enjoy the show with his family posing backstage with the pop starlet.
Posting on his official Twitter account, Key wrote: “Awesome show, @KatyPerry. Thank you for giving us the chance to say hi with Bronagh and Stephie.”
Perry is currently on her marathon 12-month Prismatic World tour ending in May 2015.
She is currently on tour in Europe and visited Auschwitz this week after her concert in Krakow.
Perry posted an Instagram photo from the former concentration camp, with an emotional message for her 15 million followers.
“My heart is heavy today. For ever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity, where the Nazi murdered about one and a half million men, women and children mainly Jews from various countries of Europe.”
She ended the caption with a quote from Spanish-American writer George Santayana: “The one that does not remember history is bound to live through it again.”
Elderly Holocaust survivors returned last month to Auschwitz 70 years after its liberation, to commemorate the Holocaust and to remind the world to never forget the annihilation of six million Jews.
Some say this is not the first time Perry has shown an emotional depth not typical of most megastars.
Kiwis certainly look forward to Perry returning to New Zealand. The demand for her December 2014 shows were huge – an estimated $55,000 worth of interest around ticket sales alone.
Well expressed,sincere thoughts from a person of influence to the generation that needs to sit up and take notice from their peers.
Great to see a young person with such a high profile take time to reflect on the Holocaust