iHeartRadio Music Awards: Katy Perry Opens Show With Dancing Hamster for “Chained to the Rhythm” Performance

Katy Perry appeared to make another political statement with her latest performance of  “Chained to the Rhythm” with Skip Marley during the iHeart Radio Music Awards on Sunday night.

Perry opened the performance donning a red pantsuit and debuting a new cropped haircut. An assembly line of children dressed as laborers were seen working onstage, surrounding a large hamster holding a controller. In one moment, the children are seen growing frustrated and throwing their tools, immediately breaking out in dance alongside Perry. 

Perry and Marley ended their performance by standing together and raising their hands in the air in heart shapes.

Offstage Perry spoke about her performance with host Ryan Seacrest, jokingly saying that her performance had “a giant orange hamster on the wheel of life,” while expressing a mischievous look to the camera. 

During her recent performances, Perry hasn’t shied away from expressing her political standpoint against Trump. At the 2017 Grammys and Brit Music Awards, Perry gave politically charged performances of the same song. During the Grammys, she wore a “persist” armband, while dancing around a fenced home in reference to President Trump’s pledge to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. An image of the U.S. Constitution was projected across the screen at the end of her set. The same concept was used during her Brit Music Awards performance, except two skeleton replicas of Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May floated across the stage.

We’re not worthy #iHeartAwards pic.twitter.com/P7WW86JSyt

— TBS Network (@TBSNetwork) March 6, 2017

THIS IS NOT A DRILL@SkipMarley killed it on stage with @KatyPerry#iHeartAwards pic.twitter.com/tpQlEPpwVm

— TBS Network (@TBSNetwork) March 6, 2017

We want to stalk @KatyPerry, make her serenade us again & eat pizza together. You know, since we’re being honest and all. #iHeartAwards pic.twitter.com/NLrqu92osF

— TBS Network (@TBSNetwork) March 6, 2017

New ‘do, who dis? @katyperry #iHeartAwards pic.twitter.com/iAGrlVhWGt

— TBS Network (@TBSNetwork) March 6, 2017

The 2017 iHeart Radio Music Awards, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, took place at the Forum in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

Other performers include Bruno Mars, Noah Cyrus, Big Sean, Shawn Mendes, Ed Sheeran, Chris Martin and The Chainsmokers.