Controversy has arisen surrounding ILLIT’s latest activities.
Accusations of imitating legacy K-Pop groups have put ILLIT at the center of controversy.
During a recent Weverse live session on April 21, KST, ILLIT announced their fandom name, “LILLY,” one letter at a time. While the reveal seemed positive among ILLIT’s fanbase, the broader online community responded with criticism. They noted the similarity with NMIXX‘s member Lily and the fandom name of BLACKPINK member Lisa, alleging a lack of originality from HYBE.
Netizens In Uproar Over HYBE’s Apparent “Theft” Of BLACKPINK Lisa’s Fandom Name, Additional Outrage Emerges
ADOR’s CEO Min Hee Jin further escalated the issue by pointing to ILLIT’s content as a prime example of their alleged imitation of NewJeans, deepening her ongoing issues with HYBE.
With the involvement of HYBE’s Bang Si Hyuk in the production of ILLIT’s debut, the copying of NewJeans by BeLift Lab goes beyond a single label issue and reflects on HYBE’s reputation in the K-Pop industry. HYBE, sadly, seems more focused on profit than innovation, recycling successful cultural content…
…ADOR has maintained a stance against any form of copying, from HYBE, BeLift Lab, or any others, of NewJeans’ creative work.
— ADOR/Min Hee Jin
The plagiarism debate has reignited as ILLIT faces new claims of mimicking EXO.
Connotations of the “L” hand sign as being an iconic representation of EXO and its fans form the core of the recent dispute. EXO-L is the official name of EXO’s fan community, and the “L” symbolizes LOVE, linking the subunits EXO-K and EXO-M, and is symbolic as part of the group’s “We are one” greeting.
After performing on Inkigayo on April 21, ILLIT posted photos on X. In one of the images, the members were seen making an “L” sign, suggested to reference the new fandom name “LILLY.”
[ILLIT updates]
Isn’t every word with ‘L’ beautiful?
Love, Lucky, ILLIT and our LILLYs
We feel supported by all the loving LILLIES.
ILLITLILLIES
We promise to give this same love back!Tweet Image Link— ILLIT official (@ILLIT_official) April 21, 2024
EXO fans swiftly took to social media to denounce ILLIT’s use of the “L” sign, perceiving it as a lack of respect to the established symbolism associated with EXO and their fan base.
FAQs About ILLIT’s Alleged “Copying” Incident
Q: What is the controversy surrounding ILLIT?
A: ILLIT has been accused of copying established K-Pop groups, including EXO, in their latest content, causing outrage among fans of the original artists.
Q: How did HYBE and ADOR respond to the accusations?
A: ADOR’s CEO Min Hee Jin criticized HYBE for prioritizing profit over originality and has taken a firm stance against any form of imitation of NewJeans’ creative work.
Q: Why are EXO fans upset with ILLIT?
A: EXO fans believe that ILLIT’s use of the “L” hand sign is an infringement on EXO’s established fan symbol, the “EXO-L,” which carries significant meaning for the EXO fan community.
Conclusion
The recent events surrounding ILLIT have prompted heated discussions within the K-Pop community about originality and the fine line between inspiration and imitation. The backlash serves as a reminder of the passionate attachment fans have to their beloved groups and the symbolic elements associated with them.