Katy Perry - Sick Perry Forced To Leave Brit Awards

Singer KATY PERRY was forced to leave Wednesday (18Feb09) night's Brit Awards early after vomiting backstage.

The star collected her prize for Best International Female Solo Artist, which was handed to her by music legend Lionel Ritchie.

And Perry explained her illness to the audience: "I'm so sick right now, but they said I should show up because something special might happen. Thank you to everyone at my record label. (I proved) I work pretty hard because I want to die right now."

But the 24-year-old vomited as soon as she came off-stage and had to bow out of the event early.

Perry confirmed the news in a text message to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who wrote on his Twitter web page, "Just got a text from Katy. She had to leave the Brits after she won. She's so sick that she puked backstage! 'Punk rock,' she says."