Avril Lavigne Responds To 'Hello Kitty' Video Criticism: 'RACIST??? LOLOLOL!!!'

Avril Lavigne's new music video for "Hello Kitty," which features the singer parading around Tokyo with a group of four expressionless Asian women, has taken its share of rightful criticism since first popping up online on Tuesday (Apr. 24). On Wednesday night, the pop singer strode forward to laugh off claims that the bizarre clip was meant to ostracize her Japanese fan base.

"RACIST??? LOLOLOL!!!" Lavigne posted on Facebook and Twitter last night. "I love Japanese culture and I spend half of my time in Japan. I flew to Tokyo to shoot this video specifically for my Japanese fans, WITH my Japanese label, Japanese choreographers AND a Japanese director IN Japan."

Avril Lavigne's 'Hello Kitty' Video Is An Embarrassment In Any Language

She then linked to the "Hello Kitty" music video, which was removed from YouTube on Tuesday but could be viewed on Lavigne's official website. Since the official video hit YouTube on Wednesday, the clip has garnered 173,000 views.

"Hello Kitty" is the fourth music video to be released from Avril Lavigne's self-titled fifth studio album, but the clip has garnered by far the most Internet buzz. Billboard's Jason Lipshutz did not charge Lavigne with racism while recapping the music video, but instead detailed the video's laziness, including the generic dance moves, clumsy guitar-playing and cringeworthy lip-synching.

Unfortunately, the "Hello Kitty" music video continues the campaign for "Avril Lavigne" -- a largely underrated pop LP -- on a rather repugnant note. Catch the reliably entertaining Lavigne when she opens for the Backstreet Boys on a tour that begins May 3.