Katy Perry Too Hot for "Sesame Street"?

Katy Perry has turned up the heat on "Sesame Street." Recently, the one-time gospel singer taped a seemingly innocent song with Elmo, a child-friendly version of her 2009 hit "Hot 'n Cold." Set to air New Year's Eve, the clip found its way to YouTube, rapidly approaching the million-hit mark. But Perry's low-cut costume has caused an uproar. Soon parents started weighing in on her performance. The clip has garnered 6,000 YouTube comments so far.

Watch the YouTube clip

Pictures: Katy Perry
Pictures: Sesame Street

"Thank you for speeding up the puberty process," wrote one mom. "You can practically see her ***," wrote another.

"Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez said that's when things went sour for "Sesame Street" execs.

Now, the girl who famously kissed a girl won't make be making her "Sesame Street" debut soon. She and Elmo have reportedly had their New Year's party invitation pulled by the show's producers.

The "Early Show" anchors weighed in on Perry's costume.

When Rodriguez said, "You don't think it is a big deal. Do you?" Erica Hill replied, "I don't know."

Hill said, "Looking at her outfit is not that provocative. I think it's a protest against her portfolio of some of her songs."

Rodriguez said, "I'd say not that it is so bad -- but why is it necessary? Can you think of any other star who's gone on 'Sesame Street' who has worn anything like that?"

Smith replied, "Miss Piggy."

"Good," Rodriguez said.

Smith added, "If you go back, if you go back and look through the archives, look at the archives and you shall see."

"Sesame Street" has issued this statement to CBS News:

"Sesame Street has a long history of working with celebrities across all genres, including athletes, actors, musicians and artists. Sesame Street has always been written on two levels, for the child and adult. We use parodies and celebrity segments to interest adults in the show because we know that a child learns best when co-viewing with a parent or care-giver. We also value our viewer's opinions and particularly those of parents. In light of the feedback we've received on the Katy Perry music video which was released on You Tube only, we have decided we will not air the segment on the television broadcast of Sesame Street, which is aimed at preschoolers. Katy Perry fans will still be able to view the video on You Tube."

21 Comments Add a Comment

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liberate98 says:: You people complaining about this video are blind as hell. I'm no Katy Perry fan, but if you guys believe what she wears is to revealing, and provocative towards children, then you guys should switch to the Disney channel more often. That TV station is made for kids, and they have young teenagers prancing around in very revealing clothing, and Disney believes these kids are role models towards the younger audience yet all they're good at is looking good and being horrible musicians. Yet you soccer moms continue to be blind and ignorant as ever. Open your eyes, the world is a more dark and cruel place than a pair of melons.; reply

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marleyduncan says:: I wish people would stop being so pathetic and petty, she is a fantastic artist and kids are very aware of what is going on around them... you only have to go to a local shopping centre and you will see young girls dresssed more provacative than Katy Perry...Grow up.. my 5 year old son says "she is hot" so get off the grass... These people who live in their little sheltered bubbles need their bubble burst....makes me mad....Get a life !!!!; reply

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marleyduncan says:: I wish people would stop being so pathetic and petty, she is a fantastic artist and kids are very aware of what is going on around them... you only have to go to a local shopping centre and you will see young girls dresssed more provacative than Katy Perry...Grow up.. my 5 year old son says "she is hot" so get off the grass... These people who live in their little sheltered bubbles need their bubble burst....makes me mad....Get a life !!!!; reply

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MrTengu says:

It always amazes me how the small minority of idiots get to have their point of view change the world. It is time for people to stand up to the vocal minority.

Let me guess, the people who don't like this video think it's ok to carry guns, believe the US war machine, and let their kids watch the evening news. Heaven forbid they should see the outline of a pair of breasts.

I find those that complain the loudest have low self esteems about their own bodies, and therefore believe others should suffer.

I can guarantee if you showed that video to a groups of the target audience and asked who was in it, they would say Elmo. They have no concept that breasts are bad. They learn that from wowsers.


fjord_fox replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; 1 - I live in Norway and no it is not ok to carry guns. It is illegal to even own a gun in this country. Even the police do not carry guns, but they sometimes get shot and killed by some people who smuggle in guns from Sweden. Are people in the U.S. allowed to carry guns in public? Amazing!
2 - What US war machine are you talking about? I did not know there was any such kind of machine. We do not like that the US thinks that they can go into other countries and rule, especially when they seem to like starting wars in those countries. Would they like it if we sent OUR kings and queens into their country and rule over them and start wars there?
3 - It is not that we do not let our kids watch the evening news at 6 PM, but they do not wish to. They do not understand it and would rather watch children's shows. Do your kids like to watch the evening news? What is so bad about it? IS it so bad for our kids to watch the evening news--that is IF they wanted to?
4 - I think the breast has little to do with it. This is a children's show, and it is in a time slot that Americans call "Prime Time". Is it not what is also called "Family Hour" and if you check with the TV stations, do they not have rules and regulations as to what CAN be shown on "Prime Time Family Hour(s)" and I think you will find that she broke those rules and regulations with that dress she was wearing. Look at the outfits that other women who guest starred on Sesame Street have worn. (http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/galleries/celebs_on_sesame_street/celebs_on_sesame_street.html) Even supermodel Heidi Klumm (6 of 49) who is wellknown for her nude or nearly-nude photos wore very appropriate clothing when guest starring there. Even she did not try to wear a dress that breaks their dresscode. If SHE could not get away with it, why should Katy Perry get away with it?

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dbert5555 says:: She is definately NOT a role model for "teaching" anything to young kids. Why would she think dressing that way for even a short time would be appropriate for a childrens show. Shows she obviously has little to NO taste in fashion. Combine that with her 9th grade education...What message was she sending to kids???....Grow and Show a large rack and you`ll get ahead in this world...; reply

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pak31 says:: I love how because people like Katy they are saying that this video is ok and that kids don't pick up on sex. Well, if it was Sarah Palin would the reaction be the same? I doubt it. Just because adults and teens like Katy doesn't make it right for her to do Sesame Street. Her songs are about sex, he dress shows breasts. I am no prude by any means but there is a time and a place for everything and Katy on that show is a no no. If you are letting your kids listen to her suggestive songs at that age then that's messed up. She isn't relatable to little children, why even consider having her guest star? Who is next, Kim Kardashian? I think, given her musical style that the show never should have asked her to come. Can't kids have anything non sexual in their little faces anymore? I know it is just breats but what ever happened to repsect in this country?; reply

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1Kathie3 says:

Seriously this is totally ridiculous... if your child is young enough to watch Sesame Street then they're NOT "Checking out" Katy Perry; and on the flip side, if your child is "Checking her out" then maybe, they're getting too old to be watching Sesame Street - they see more skin at the pool or on the beach in the summer. Harry said it best yesterday, Miss Piggy shows more cleavage!!!


fjord_fox replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; I think you miss the point. It has little or nothing to do with the dress, although, in my country, it is considered a dress that only a hooker would wear, and a decent girl would not be seen in a dress like that, and I do not understand why you would want a girl in a hooker's dress to guest star on Sesame Street, which is not a rated R adult show or even what you call a PG-13 show, but a children's show. If you go to http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Orders/1996/fcc96335.htm#Issues you will find that there is something you American's call the FCC, and that they have rules and regulations as to what CAN and what CANNOT be shown on children's shows. These are called laws. In essance, Katy Perry has broken the law. So has Sesame Street by filming her with a hooker's dress on. They have broken the law too. Now if the parents wanted to, they could have gone directly to FCC and THEY would then, investigate and if it IS found that Sesame Street did break the law, there would have to be a penalty given, whether just a warning, a fine, or shutting down the show, or jailtime for someone--or all of the above. The parents do not want that, so they go to Sesame Street instead and complain to THEM. The parents do not want to see Sesame Street shut down for disobeying the laws, because then these parents would not have Sesame Street for their kids to watch. Sesame Street does not want that, because then they would be out of business, which means that they would not be making MONEY. The network does not want that either for the same reasons. After all, Sesame Street IS one of their biggest moneymaking shows, so that is why they are still on after so many decades--because they make MONEY. When the ratings go down, they do not make so much money, and when they do not make so much money, then they have to cancel the show and put something else in its place that maybe WILL make MONEY. SO the network tells Sesame Street to go on the Today Show, on The AM Show, on Oprah, and on any show that would schedule them and make a public apology to all of the offended parents. SO Sesame Street "pulls" the video and makes that apology. Hopefully, maybe they did that WITHOUT the network telling them to. Now there is still a chance that the FCC COULD "call them on it" but if they do, then Sesame Street now has the defense that "When we realized our mistake, because the parents complained and called us on it, we quickly pulled the video and made a public apology!" and that might appease the FCC so if they DO give them a penalty, at least they would not shut them down altogether--because there ARE parents who still want to see Sesame Street on the air. Now do you understand? Go to the link that I have given you above and read about the rules and regulations for children's TV shows and you will find out that while you Americans do have a law that allows you to have Freedom of Speech, there ARE laws as to WHAT Freedom of Speech DOES mean and what it does not mean. That is even included within those rules and regulations. You're American and you don't know your own laws?

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sean1z says:: Katy doesn't need Sesame Street. She should stick with guys who have morning wood every day.; reply

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Dragoyle says:: Are we to assume that it's not appropriate for a human being to be dressed as Katy Perry on Seseme Street, but quite appropriate for a muppet like Miss Piggy, who displays more cleavage than Katy Perry. A difference between muppets and Katy???! Throughout the years children have been emulating Miss Piggy and her way of dress. Some parental women today were these same children back in 1969 and their parents probably thought this "CUTE!" It's o.k. for these children to view this type of dress every where else, but not on Seseme Street! TV-Y rating? Then lets make sure that both humans and muppets adhere to the rules of this rating. Blouses buttoned up to the neck and muppets be dressed and not running helter-skelter on set. This should apply to both males and females.; reply

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quahogrepub says:: It is inappropriate. There is a big difference between "the Muppets" and "Sesame Street", Harry!

Whovever thought they would grow up and dress like Miss Piggy anyway? Or be like her?; reply