SM Entertainment's aespa Makes Headlines For Alleged Plagiarism With “Savage” Teaser Photos

SM Entertainment group aespa is highly awaited to make their comeback on 5th October 2021  with their first mini-album titled Savage. aespa teased fans with new concept photos which are making headlines for alleged plagiarism.

SM Entertainment recently shared stunning individual photos of Ningning, Karina, Winter, and Giselle.

These teaser photos have been criticized for Plagiarism for their similarity to other artists’ works. The above photos of the aespa members wearing headpieces have been accused of plagiarizing British designer James Merry. James Merry is the co-creative designer for Icelandic musician Björk and has been credited as the mastermind behind some of her amazing headpieces.

Not only the “Savage” teaser photo criticized for its alleged plagiarism but also the photo below, Karina can be seen lying mid-air with a skeletal serpent-like being wrapped around her body. And while this was explained as an homage to the snake in aespa’s debut song “Black Mamba,” netizens couldn’t help but notice the similarity between these photos.

The photo is the work of Japanese illustrator Hajime Sorayama. The illustrator’s artwork features a woman in the same mid-air position with a robot-looking being wrapped around her body.

This is not the first time aespa and SM Entertainment have been hit with plagiarism accusations. The girl group’s debut song “Black Mamba” was also called out for its alleged plagiarism after netizens noticed many similarities between aespa’s music video and German visual artist Timo Helgert‘s work .

Other one of their “Black Mamba” Inkigayo stages was also accused of copying the work of artist Blake Kathryn.

SM Entertainment have yet to address the allegations surrounding aespa’s recent “Savage” teaser photos.