Katy Perry has criticised the British media after it published a photo of her holding a knife.

The 23-year-old American singer was widely condemned last week when the picture, taken by fashion photographer Terry Richardson, was published by the Sun newspaper.

The publication of the photo came just days after a 16-year-old army cadet was stabbed outside a Liverpool Youth Club.

In a statement, Perry's UK publicist insisted that the singer was “against all violence” and that the photo was “in no way related to the current events in the UK.”

However, Perry has since published a new version of the photo in which she can be seen holding a spoon rather than a knife.

One her blog, Perry wrote: “...But I DO condone eating ice cream with a very large spoon.”

She then called into question the motives of the Sun newspaper.

“Dear Sun: You deserve a time out. Your 'journalistic' approach has half the soul of the National Enquirer. Shame on you,” she wrote.

Perry is no stranger to controversy. Her debut single, 'I Kissed A Girl', drew a mixed response when it was released during the summer.

The singer is due to host the MTV Europe Music Awards in Liverpool next month.

(by Jason Gregory)