aespa Embroiled in Yet Another Plagiarism with their ‘Inkigayo’ Debut Stage

SM’s rookie girl group aespa has been embroiled in plagiarism controversy again.

Recently, Blake Kathryn, a Los Angeles-based visual artist posted two photos and wrote, “was sent this, def see an uncomfortable level of similarities with my work namely this.” One of the photos is her artwork, while the other is a capture from aespa’s debut stage on SBS’s Inkigayo.

If you compare the two pictures, not only is the structure of aespa’s stage similar to her work, but also trees in the graphic background show similar features.

Blake Kathryn also wrote, “I’d absolutely love to work alongside k-pop artists, established or new, this really cuts deep,” and “getting some uncomfortable DMs between here and ig, I will pursue this regardless. theft is theft, I don’t blame the girls but mgmt must be held accountable esp when I am not the first artist to report plagiarism.”

I’d absolutely love to work alongside kpop artists, established or new, this really cuts deep

— blake kathryn (@blakekathryn) November 26, 2020

getting some uncomfortable DMs between here and ig, I will pursue this regardless. theft is theft, I don’t blame the girls but mgmt must be held accountable esp when I am not the first artist to report plagiarism

— blake kathryn (@blakekathryn) November 27, 2020

Upon seeing the post, netizens’ primary reaction was “SM did it again.” Others wrote, “This stage is only different in colors from her work,” “I mean, do they not have brains of their own?” “And yes, SM did it again,” and “I’ll bet you that this artist will soon say ‘everything has been settled’ after SM ‘compensates’ her with a bunch of money.”

Earlier, aespa was embroiled in plagiarism with the “Black Mamba” music video. The artist, who first raised the suspicion, recently wrote that he and SM have “discussed” the issue and that he “supports” aespa.

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