Katy Perry locked in to perform at Women’s T20 World Cup final in Melbourne
Pop superstar Katy Perry will perform at the final of the women’s T20 World Cup at the MCG next year. Her last meeting with Australian cricket almost landed her in a Chennai courthouse.
Cricket
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The last time Katy Perry took centre stage at a cricket spectacular, two things happened:
Doug Bollinger was on stage as her back-up dancer, and the pair were later accused in an Indian court of public ‘indecency’.
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Cricket organisers on Wednesday pulled off a massive coup by snaring global pop superstar Perry to perform as the headline act at the Women’s World Cup Final next year, instantly boosting hopes the landmark event will create history as a 100,000 seat sell-out on March 8.
Keen to avoid a repeat of what happened to the VRC recently when Taylor Swift pulled out late from starring at the Melbourne Cup, World Cup bosses drew up a concerted short list aimed at securing an artist which fit the tournament’s message of empowering women – rather than chasing someone based purely on commercial reasons.
Perry was No.1 on their wish list, and through management, she jumped at the opportunity.
She will perform her hit song ‘Roar’ – an anthem of strength and boldness for young girls – before the 6pm prime time final, and will also return to stage after the trophy presentation for a mini-concert.
However, it’s safe to say Australian cricket icon ‘Doug the Rug’ won’t be making an encore appearance this time around.
🚨100 days to go! 🚨
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) November 12, 2019
There will be fireworks in more ways than one at the @ICC Women’s #T20WorldCup Final, with global pop sensation @katyperry to perform LIVE 🎆
Details: https://t.co/lOtUzGOZlE
Tickets: https://t.co/k9dN2ot03n pic.twitter.com/IR3T3w04Oy
Back in 2012, Perry opened the Indian Premier League season at a gala spectacular in Chennai, and created waves when she pulled Bollinger’s arms around her to demonstrate a cricket shot.
It was a bit of playful fun made funnier, for those in on the joke, by the fact the American was taking batting lessons from a tail ender who averaged 7 in Test cricket.
A local lawyer didn’t take it in the same humour, prompting a hearing in the Madras High Court to adjudicate on claims that Perry and Bollinger’s performance was “obscene.”
It’s fair to say charges were never laid.
Bollinger, one of the great characters of the Australian dressing room, on Wednesday played down his brush with fame – and the Indian legal system – upon hearing of Perry’s return to the cricket world.
“Nah it was just a bit of fun. That’s all it was. Just a bit of fun to keep everything lighthearted,” Bollinger said.
“It was (a long time ago). I didn’t hear anything or know anything about (the court claim).”
Another pop superstar, Rihanna, made an appearance as a fan at this year’s men’s World Cup in the UK to support her native West Indies.
But Perry was always the No.1 choice for cricket organisers.
Perry once headlined the famous Superbowl Halftime Show, and will bring glitz and glamour to an event trying to eclipse a FIFA women’s soccer world cup attendance of 90,000 as the biggest crowd ever to a women’s sports event.
“We pretty much sat down and made a list,” said World Cup chief executive, Nick Hockley.
“And Katy Perry was No.1. The broader proposition was about it being a big, global celebration of inclusion and empowerment.
“We made the approach and she said she’d be delighted to come and be a part of it. We’re just thrilled to have her.”