Singer Anne Marie issues mortified apology after appearing in TV sketch in which Ant & Dec brandished Japan’s BANNED Rising Sun flag symbolising the mass-murder of 20 million people
Singer Anne Marie has taken to social media to issue a grovelling apology after she took part in a live sketch on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway in which the presenting duo wore Rising Sun flags, symbolising the slaughter of 20 million people in Asia.
The Ciao Adios songstress, 28, appeared on the live show on Saturday evening on ITV, performing to the audience while Ant & Dec pranced around in the backdrop dressed in Japanese martial arts garb.
On their headbands was the Rising Sun symbol – which is a banned image, considered to be the Japanese version of Germany’s Nazi Hakenkreuz, or Swastika.
Singer Anne Marie has taken to social media to issue a grovelling apology after she took part in a live sketch on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway in which the presenting duo wore Rising Sun flags, symbolising the slaughter of 20 million people in Asia
Viewers were left outraged by the jovial use of the symbol, prompting the singer to post on Twitter on Sunday: ‘I sincerely apologise to all those who were affected and hurt by my appearance last night on a UK TV [show].
‘I want you to know that i had nothing to do with the costumes on this sketch.
‘Unfortunately education on this part of the history wasn’t done and I am also hurt by the pain this signifies for so many people.
‘I am truly sorry and I promise you that this will not happen again.
‘Our team is talking to the TV station, working on taking down the footage so that it does not cause any more pain [sic].’
What it means: A Twitter user posted information about what the symbol means