SM Entertainment Hires The Original Artist They Allegedly Plagiarized From Previously, For aespa’s Upcoming Comeback

[My Everything]

Previously, it was reported that SM Entertainment‘s visual team had been under suspicion of plagiarism, regarding aespa‘s concept photos for “Black Mamba”. Artist Bryan Huynh had compared his work as well as aespa’s teaser photos, after news broke out that a director on the visual team had saved his work in Pinterest under a mood board for aespa.

 

| @bryanhuynh/Instagram

 

The work was glaringly similar and it seems that many had acknowledged SM Entertainment had plagiarized Bryan Huynh’s work. Subsequently, Bryan clarified that there was no hate towards aespa.

It seems that the situation has taken a turn upwards with aespa’s upcoming comeback! Bryan himself announced on his personal Instagram that SM Entertainment had asked him to work on aespa’s comeback, “Next Level”. He shared some stunning concept photos of Karina.

Bryan had worked on the concept and photography with an amazing team. He shared via stories that he had a blast working on this project and even praised aespa and the SM Entertainment team for reaching out to him.

 

Source

[STORM BLOOM]

They could have done this before tbh. Well better late than never. 

 

Anyway excited for Aespa's Grand return 

 

[Gerimolda]

Love the "allegedly"

[Rei sakuma]

It's not an SM comeback without a scandal.

[Rei sakuma]

Nooo I forgot they ripped off my girl Hunter schafer 

[himi]

lmao a mess they could've contacted him way before. i'm sure he'd be happy to work with them 

[gam3 bo1]

they already look better than the black mamba teasers, should've worked with them from the start

[starsocks]

kndsnjsfjn

[Eremit]

should have done this from the start, but I guess they always try to see what they can get away with before they actually pay someone

[Your Biggest Fan]

This is what they should always do. If you admire the artist's work, why not work with them?

Companies need to understand that it's 2021 not 2001. Everything is global and connected. You can't hide your plagiarism anymore, even if you're on the other side of the world. You're going to get caught and called out.

[deliriousness]

I wonder if this is the end of SM’s plagiarism. Because they have never admitted to it before, I don’t think, and this is them silently admitting it, in a way, and trying to remedy it. Hopefully this is real change. I love art.

Edited May 7, 2021 by marin karin

[Hizu]

The pictures look amazing tbh. I wonder what their comeback will be like!

[WhateverBitch]

Sorry SM, I'm still mad that this comeback is just a digital single and not a mini. Today I won't praise you for doing the bare minimum, but I'm happy for the original creator, he sounds very happy with this outcome and the teaser looks amazing. 

[WujuLike]

im glad they hired him!

[schue]

If you can't beat them, hire them!

[No1]

Fuck them. It’s what they should have done since the beginning.

[Nev Schulman]

"Believing in me from the start"... okay well interesting he expresses it like that. Knowing his initial response. Mistakes happen and I genuinely hope SM has learned and paid this artist his dues. Art is already quite undervalued and under appreciated in some cases so I really hope they are paying him what he's actually worth because he's talented.

[Josaline]

Imagine SM do this kind of thing with their Hollywood group debut lol

 

[Elscian]

I hope the plagiarist got fired

[MinnieMax]

This why fandoms should call out companies when they notice things like this and not attack those authors/try to hide plagiarism under the rug. It's a win for everyone when the work is used after getting permission and providing payment. SM was too comfortable waaay too long. 

Teasers are very very pretty!

[satoori]

On 5/7/2021 at 7:33 AM, Your Biggest Fan said:

This is what they should always do. If you admire the artist's work, why not work with them?

Companies need to understand that it's 2021 not 2001. Everything is global and connected. You can't hide your plagiarism anymore, even if you're on the other side of the world. You're going to get caught and called out.

 

[Blood Orange]

they should have done this from the beginning. like I’m not going to praise them for finally doing the right thing when the only reason they hired this guy was because small creators called them out. had they not they would continue to steal and act like they’re the ones that are super creative and innovative.

idk lsm has horrible sense and judgement. first he has a plagiarist as an art director and now it’s been exposed an employee was stealing and doing fraud. but then again that’s right up lsm alley since he’s a criminal too lol.