X Factor’s Saara Aalto hits back at accusations of cultural appropriation: ‘I love Japanese culture’

Saara Aalto has defended her X Factor performance after being accused of cultural appropriation.

The Finnish singer, who was saved in the sing-off on Sunday, has said that she ‘loves Japanese culture’ following her performance of Sounds of the Underground dressed as a geisha.

Speaking on Monday’s Good Morning Britain, Aalto said: “I loved it because I love Japanese culture. We had a party in Tokyo in that song.”

“I loved it, I’ve waited my whole life to do something like that and yes, maybe I should strip it down but next week is Disco Week.”

Choreographer Brian Friedman has also spoken out to defend the performance on Instagram, by posting photos of pop stars including Madonna, Beyonce and Rihanna dressed in Japanese clothes.

“I am obsessed with Japanese culture, have spent much of my life there and speak Japanese!” he wrote.

“If you took this wrong, your head was in the wrong place…only love! PS were not the first to do it either!!!! (sic).”

A number of viewers claimed that they found Aalto’s Japanese-inspired costume ‘offensive’ during Saturday night’s show.

“Why is Saara Aalto's performance full of rather blunt cultural appropriation (mostly Japanese/Chinese mess)? #TheXFactor #SaaraAalto,” one person wrote on Twitter.

“I found Saara's performance very offensive.. a culture is not a dress up costume #XFactor,” wrote someone else.

Aalto found herself in the bottom two again this week but was saved by the judges in the sing-off, meaning that girl group Four of Diamonds lost their place in the competition.