LE SSERAFIM’s Unfair Hate Train: What’s Really Going On?

LE SSERAFIM has been no stranger to controversy, but their recent comebacks have put them at the center of some of the most heated plagiarism accusations. The most recent one, in particular, has truly enraged audiences, and fans are bringing out all the receipts. But how much truth do these allegations actually hold?

Table of Contents

• 1. The Birth of “Born Fire”: When the Controversy Started
• 2. Yunjin’s Teaser vs. Mugler: The Furry Tunnel and Giant Wheel Debate
• 3. Chaewon: “HOT” Across the Chest & Sabrina Carpenter Controversy
• 4. Similarities to ITZY: Standard Group Photo or Real Concept Theft?
• 5. Not the First Time: The “CRAZY” Comeback and More Allegations
• 6. Comparisons to aespa and Red Velvet: Critics Go Off
• 7. The Big List of “Plagiarism”: A Closer Look at the Evidence
• 8. Manipulated Images and Selective Scenes Fueling the Fire
• 9. Deeper Context: “Matching” vs. “Trend Overlaps”
• 10. Taking on Rumors: Where Does LE SSERAFIM Stand Now?
• Conclusion: The Hate Train Keeps Rolling

1. The Birth of “Born Fire”: When the Controversy Started

It all kicked off in February 2025, when LE SSERAFIM began teasing their fifth mini-album, “HOT.” Fans were excited for the lead single, “Born Fire,” set to drop on March 14. However, the promotional teasers sparked an unexpected firestorm, as viewers started identifying suspiciously similar visuals to existing works. Almost overnight, the focus shifted from excitement about their new track to allegations that LE SSERAFIM’s creative team had copied a bunch of other artists.

2. Yunjin’s Teaser vs. Mugler: The Furry Tunnel and Giant Wheel Debate

The initial uproar centered on a specific teaser starring member Yunjin. In the clip, she crawls through a plush, fur-lined tunnel before stepping onto a massive hamster wheel. Observant netizens quickly pointed out parallels to a Mugler perfume ad featuring model Anok Yai, where she was also seen crawling through a furry tunnel and running in a large wheel. The similarity in shots led critics to claim it was almost a direct lift of the concept.

But that was just the starting point; more parallels quickly followed. Some fans argued it was too coincidental to be innocent, while defenders insisted it was a stretch—these aesthetics can pop up in many creative projects. Regardless, the “furry tunnel” fiasco was enough to trigger a wave of online debates, with fans scouring both videos for side-by-side comparisons.

3. Chaewon: “HOT” Across the Chest & Sabrina Carpenter Controversy

Next, fans zeroed in on Chaewon’s teaser photo, which displayed the word “HOT” written boldly across her chest. Immediately, this triggered comparisons to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” promotions. In a widely shared image, Sabrina had “ESPRESSO” etched across her back in a similar block style. Once again, the question arose: was it an accidental overlap, or was LE SSERAFIM re-using someone else’s concept? For many netizens, it felt too specific to ignore.

It didn’t help that suspicion around LE SSERAFIM was already heightened. After critics linked the group to previous controversies, watchers saw the chest lettering as yet another red flag. However, defenders quickly pushed back—pointing out that brand names or words scrawled on the body is not a novel concept in K-pop or Western music. Nonetheless, the rumor mill spun on, fueling hashtags like “#LESSERAFIMplagiarist” across social media.

4. Similarities to ITZY: Standard Group Photo or Real Concept Theft?

It wasn’t just Western artists in the crosshairs—ITZY also got brought up as a group allegedly “copied” by LE SSERAFIM’s “HOT” teasers. Some netizens posted side-by-side pics of group poses, claiming they looked suspiciously similar to an ITZY photoshoot. Others felt the claim was flimsy—“They’re literally just standing there, looking at the camera,” as one fan sarcastically put it. But that didn’t stop the accusations from spreading across Twitter/X, with critics stating that “LE SSERAFIM’s teasers are like a Frankenstein of multiple groups’ aesthetics.”

The lack of direct, tangible proof didn’t curb the online outrage. People claimed that each new release by LE SSERAFIM seemed to incorporate something from someone else’s portfolio, fueling a narrative that the group’s entire image was stitched together from stolen ideas. The conversation escalated to the point where even some mainstream news outlets started referencing the wave of allegations, though rarely providing solid evidence beyond user-submitted opinions.

5. Not the First Time: The “CRAZY” Comeback and More Allegations

This wasn’t new for LE SSERAFIM. In 2024, during their “CRAZY” comeback, they faced a strikingly similar scenario. That controversy centered on claims that LE SSERAFIM’s visuals looked too much like aespa and Red Velvet, both major SM Entertainment acts. The similarities were said to include neon lighting and hair styling reminiscent of aespa’s Winter, which led to online forums discussing whether Chaewon was “copying Winter again.” Others pointed to the group’s overall aesthetic in their Japanese promotions and found parallels to Red Velvet’s “Chill Kill” comeback from 2023.

The arguments escalated when LE SSERAFIM dropped teaser photos for “CRAZY” in Japan, showing black-and-white outfits in a slightly eerie, vintage setting. Red Velvet’s fans felt it resembled “Chill Kill” so closely that they called the look a “lower quality copy.” Some netizens even drew parallels between LE SSERAFIM’s short teaser clips and Red Velvet’s “Birthday” music video. All of these accusations fueled a growing storyline that LE SSERAFIM was perpetually lifting ideas rather than forging a unique identity.

6. Comparisons to aespa and Red Velvet: Critics Go Off

While the aespa parallels often revolved around futuristic styling, neon-tinged visuals, or edgy hairdos, the Red Velvet comparisons were more about retro/horror themes. This led to accusations that LE SSERAFIM’s label was directionless, shamelessly trying on other groups’ concepts to see what stuck. One irritated netizen wrote: “They’re the only 4th-gen group with zero identity. Are they trying to be f(x), aespa, or Red Velvet?”

However, deeper digging revealed that some of these “plagiarized” photoshoots had the same photographer. In the alleged “Chill Kill” copying scenario, the pictures for both groups were shot by Cho Gi-Seok, a photographer known for a specific style. Fans argued that if an artist or photographer has a signature approach, repeating it across different projects is not plagiarism. Critics still refused to back down, labelling it a “cheaper copy,” ignoring that certain creative professionals might replicate their aesthetics across multiple clients.

7. The Big List of “Plagiarism”: A Closer Look at the Evidence

As if these scattered claims weren’t enough, someone posted a compilation tweet on X, titled “LE SSERAFIM’s entire career is plagiarism”. They listed “Linda” by Rosalía for “Unforgiven,” “Water” by Tyla for “EASY,” “Woman” by Doja Cat for another era, and so on. The problem? They never pointed to direct parallels beyond broad aesthetic or sonic vibes. Afrobeat or Latin pop have also been trending globally—are these indefinite “similarities” or actual copies?

Furthermore, a widely shared screenshot supposedly showing LE SSERAFIM’s “HOT” concept mirrored Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” turned out to be a fan edit. Critics used it as evidence until fans proved that Sabrina’s “ESPRESSO” image was never an official promotion. Many netizens felt misled, describing the fiasco as an attempt to stir drama by knowingly using fake references. Another example was the clipped scenes comparing “Born Fire” to Mugler’s ad—if watchers viewed the full videos side by side, they’d see no strong resemblance overall beyond a couple of short frames of a furry set and a wheel prop.

8. Manipulated Images and Selective Scenes Fueling the Fire

In many plagiarism accusations, selective editing is common: short video snippets or manipulated images that make two concepts look nearly identical. Then, the context for each concept gets conveniently ignored. This technique heavily shaped the narrative around LE SSERAFIM. Meme-like tweets came from accounts that openly disliked HYBE or targeted the group specifically, fueling a negative cycle. By the time LE SSERAFIM’s fans debunked or clarified the claims, the misinformation had already reached tens of thousands of impressions.

Still, major K-pop outlets reported on the rumors, albeit with disclaimers that the accusations “aren’t confirmed”. The coverage inadvertently validated the rumor chatter, making it more believable to casual fans. To date, no official statements from the brand owners or artists involved (like Sabrina Carpenter or Mugler) have emerged, which suggests that these comparisons might be overblown fan speculation rather than legitimate intellectual property disputes.

9. Deeper Context: “Matching” vs. “Trend Overlaps”

Critically analyzing the accusations reveals that K-pop often recycles or references common motifs. High fashion influences, futuristic elements, retro aesthetics, and color-coded stylings are typical. Many fans suspect the so-called “plagiarism spree” is really just LE SSERAFIM, or their creative directors, playing around with widely used ideas. As one fan quipped: “We see wheels, neon lights, and big lettering in so many MVs—some folks just want to blame LE SSERAFIM for everything.”

At the same time, no one denies that unoriginal or derivative ideas can happen in K-pop. But deriving inspiration from popular trends is different from directly stealing entire concepts. The line is fuzzy, of course, but the moment you dig into these controversies, the so-called “proof” often falls apart. Large swaths of netizens see this entire fiasco as an attempt to tarnish LE SSERAFIM’s name by perpetuating a narrative of them “having no identity.”

10. Taking on Rumors: Where Does LE SSERAFIM Stand Now?

Through the “CRAZY” era, the “HOT” era, and every smaller event in between, LE SSERAFIM has maintained relative silence regarding plagiarism accusations. It could be that HYBE or Source Music sees these claims as baseless, not worth a response. Or maybe they fear fueling the drama by dignifying it with an official statement. Meanwhile, fans are left to do the heavy lifting, debunking or clarifying rumors themselves on social media, with uncertain effectiveness.

What remains certain is that LE SSERAFIM’s controversies revolve around selective examples and dubious “evidence”. There’s no sign of real legal friction—no brand calling them out, no lawsuits. Yet, the group’s critics continue to push the storyline that LE SSERAFIM is “copying everyone.” Whether it’s an orchestrated smear campaign or just bored fans jumping on coincidences, the negative chatter persists. For better or worse, LE SSERAFIM seems destined to re-enter the fray each new comeback.

Conclusion: The Hate Train Keeps Rolling

In the grand scheme of K-pop, plagiarism accusations aren’t new, but the scale and repetitiveness faced by LE SSERAFIM in 2024–2025 have been intense. From Mugler references and Sabrina Carpenter fan edits to rehashed Red Velvet “Chill Kill” talk, fans are witnessing a swirl of swirling rumors. When placed under a microscope, most of these claims unravel due to insufficient proof, conflicting timelines, or reliance on faked images and incomplete comparisons.

Regardless, the “unfair hate train” shows no sign of stopping. Unless the group or their company breaks the silence or the critics move on, every new teaser might spark fresh “plagiarism” chatter. For now, all we can do is watch how LE SSERAFIM navigates the accusations. Will they continue ignoring them, or will a bigger scandal force them to respond openly? Until then, perhaps it’s wise to remember that in an industry brimming with overlapping trends, similar doesn’t always mean stolen. K-pop is about evolution, not complete invention—and if you look for parallels, you’ll always find something, whether it’s truly plagiarism or just part of the creative conversation.