Katy Perry on 'Sesame Street' -- see her cleavage for yourself [video] [updated]

When Katy Perry visited "Sesame Street," Elmo didn't seem to mind her cleavage -- but parents who previewed a version of her singing a rewritten "Hot N Cold" while playing tag with the furry red guy begged to differ.

Seems that sheer fabric that goes from neck to, um, places lower than Katy's neck on her "dress-up clothes" won't cut it as a preschool-appropriate outfit, with show producers Sesame Workshop deciding to pull the segment from the kids show's Sept. 27 season premiere.

"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," the producers said Thursday in a statement. 

"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."

You can see the video for yourself above, or on at Katy Perry's YouTube channel. What do you think -- are you screaming "censorship" or pleased that preschoolers won't be getting that view when they get to "Sesame Street"?

We're guessing Perry's fiancé, Russell Brand,is going to agree with Elmo on this one.

[For the record, 2:16 p.m.: A previous version of this post gave the name of Perry's song incorrectly as  "Hot and Cold." It is "Hot N Cold."]

-- Christie D'Zurilla

 

Comments

[Lauren]

While breasts are natural and beautiful and blah blah blah, and I wouldn't care if my three-year-old watched that clip, K-Par could have worn something less whorish for an appearance on freaking Sesame Street. She gets on my nerves anyway, though. Sweet lord. It's not the boobage I would be afraid of my kids watching, it's more her terrible acting and ridiculous "singing" "songwriting." I feel like that annoying goob just invaded my childhood memories and I kind of want to punch her.

[DarlinDarla]

Give me a break. Have you seen the way some of these mom dress when picking up their kids from school? Hoochies at best. As a late-bloomer mom, from the "neighborhood" no less, my 8-year old and I love Katy and her music as well as Elmo.

[Karen]

Is Katy really a role model for kids?! Do preschoolers need to look up to someone who sings about sex on the beach and PMSing like a bxxch?

[Ironica]

I'm glad they pulled it, but only because Katy Perry's a talentless hack, not because of how she's dressed (well, okay, that color *is* hideous). I hope the folks who are so worried about it are also preventing their tiny tots from walking down the street, visiting the supermarket, or (Godzilla forbid) going to the BEACH... because they'll see as much and more in all those places.

[Stacey]

In my opinion, Katy Perry should have known what was appropriate to wear on Sesame Street. It's not I'm offended by it, but there's a time a place to wear a low cut top. Do you see school teachers in those outfits? It's not that they can't wear them, it's that they know better. Couldn't she have worn something more appropriate for just one day? We get it Katy, you have boobs. Just use your head now and we would be all good.

[Nathan]

Katy Perry is lame. That's reason enough in my book.

[Sabrina]

Sesame Street is for kids...for KIDS...not oversexed adults! It doesn't make it uptight to insist on letting kids be kids and to have at least one place where they aren't exposed to all the flotsam and jetsam and garbage floating out there posing as entertainment. As a mother and a grandmother, I applaud Sesame Street's choice to keep this show family friendly and I think other shows should follow suit.

[Brooke S]

I really believe we are teaching young girls to expose too much of themselves with their clothing. As a 30 year old mother I don't think I'm out of the loop when it comes to being stylish and AGE APPROPRIATE. My daughter who is 2 1/2 is dressed in clothing that is cute, but never too short, and doesn't resemble things I've seen other little girls wear (generally a mirror of their moms in short shorts, and low cut shirts). I do like Katy Perry's style, songs, and think she is a great performer. But I do believe that as a young hip performer, she may have thought twice about the message she was sending to very young girls. It's a cute video and remake, I always love those segments of Sesame Street, but too much cleavage and too short of a skirt for the type of audience.

[Jose Urbino]

I don't think the issue here is her breasts as much as how completely stupid the video is. The real crime is how stupid are we making our children by showing them this ridiculous clip?

[kristina mitchell]

all i can say there is age appropriate channels to be on.leave the sluttish too mtv.not sesame street

[DSWEETONE]

@who picked her wardrobe? while it's not bad, it could have been more appropriate for playing with elmo. someone didn't do their job.

Posted by: Janice | Sep 23, 2010 at 09:23 AM
My sentiments exactly!

[Muffy]

BS! Your kid sees your boobs everyday!

[brian]

i think its funny how this is more important then the war in irac and other majior stuff in the world,i mean how about we just put ms piggy on girls gone wild now there would be a good show lol

[southoc]

I don't think Elmo minded. How ever it should have been obvious to Kermie that perhaps miss piggy should have been her stylist.

[Big Jim Slade]

What are those- 34C's?

[whocares]

I nor my children would have given this any thought if they were to see it before all the fuss. I think a lot of young kids see more of their mothers than this.

[Tricia]

The dress is not bad for Katy Perry but isn't she the same young lady who kissed a girl and liked it? It's amazing at the things that people choose to complain about.

[Jim Balderrama]

Unbelievable that people find that offensive. My gawd - children might see breasts!

[Ken]

I'm glad they pulled it. That Elmo character was totally naked

[AJM]

My 3 year old watched this with me and said "Elmo!" That was it. It isn't "too risque" for 3 year olds. It's too risque for prudish adults (who actually aren't prudish because they are the ones with the dirty minds). SS jumped the shark when Cookie monster stopped eating cookies so this is no surprise.

[Seriously]

To those who think we have entered a new era where we are "over-sexed" and damaging our kids by showing so much skin... Esther Williams wore less clothes during her movies in the 1940s. This is much ado about nothing.

[Aussie Dave]

Just a storm in a B-cup.

Seriously, you Yanks come across to the rest of the western world as a bunch of hypocritical prudes.

[anna]

all of katy perry's songs sound the EXACT same. they could have picked someone much more interesting than her anyway....

[Anonermous]

I think it's problematic to have a pop star who normally infantilizes sexuality on a show aimed at infants, thereby sexualizing the infantile. I don't think it's bad for kids as bad for the kids as much as it is bad for the parents. I don't think the issue is the cleavage as much as the "playing dress up" thing; Katy Perry is famous for this bondage-schoolgirl-cheesecake style and this Elmo clip is actually playing up to that image with the inference of sexual role-playing. And yes, I'm serious. Sesame Street has smart writers, they know what they're doing. They should know better.

[Popo]

I think that if, instead of Katy Perry, we'd see Betty White's cleavage, no one would complain. Everybody would just go "aw."

So if you remember that, someday, this gorgeous chick'll be as disturbing to watch as Bett White, you'll go "aw," too.

So use your imagination, as Sesame Street says, and get a life.