The 34-year-old pop star’s fashion brand, Katy Perry Collections, removed the footwear from its website immediately after it sparked outrage online.
The two styles of shoe, the Rue Face slip-on loafer and the Ora Face block heel sandal, feature a face with prominent red lips.
The shoes were on sale in US retailers including Walmart, but have been removed following the backlash.
“The Rue and The Ora were part of a collection that was released last summer in nine different colourways (black, blue, gold, graphite, lead, nude, pink, red, silver) and envisioned as a nod to modern art and surrealism,” the spokeswoman said.
“I was saddened when it was brought to my attention that it was being compared to painful images reminiscent of blackface.
“Our intention was never to inflict any pain. We have immediately removed them.”
Perry’s shoe line is available to buy at House of Fraser in the UK, though the department store confirmed it has never stocked the Rue and Ora styles.
Several fashion items have recently sparked controversy under similar circumstances.
Last week, Gucci was forced to apologise after it became embroiled in a racism row – with shoppers complaining that a women’s jumper resembled “blackface”.
The Italian fashion brand faced a barrage of criticism after images emerged of the “balaclava jumper”, which features a cut-out at the mouth that is outlined in red.
In December, Prada removed a series of accessories that included black monkeys with red lips.
The line of small items, called Pradamalia, featured keychains and toys in several colours. However, the black and brown versions had oversized red lips.
And in January last year, high street store H&M came under fire after an image of a black child modelling a hoodie with the slogan “coolest monkey in the jungle” appeared on its website.
