The popular Japanese rock-pop band Mrs. Green Apple removed the music video for their new song “Columbus” from YouTube on Thursday, following claims of racism and ignorance about the clip from social media users. The video was online for less than a day.
“Columbus” found the three members of the group dressing up as famous individuals from throughout history, including Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus, and encountering characters that looked like monkeys. Mrs. Green Apple then trains and apparently controls the ape-like men, pulling the trio around in carts and greeting them.
“Columbus” the song was released at midnight on Wednesday and the video arrived later that evening. The criticism came quickly. Users sounded off in the comments section of the clip and so on social platformlabeling the video as ignorant and bordering on racist.
