TXT’s return with their new single Love Language is not unanimous. Released on May 2, this pop title marks a more magical and dreamy style that has long defined the identity of the group. The MOAs were delighted to find this atmosphere after several months of waiting.
But as soon as they performance of Comeback on Music Bank, a detail challenged certain fans. A passage from the choreography, in which the members slide their hands under their clothes to reveal their abs, reminded a lot of the choreographic signature of Taemin in Guilty.
The comparisons did not stop there. Other aspects of the concept of TXT, from styling to visual choices, were also brought closer to the dark and sensual universe that Taemin had developed for Guilty, released in 2023. This situation has rekindled a debate that had been incubating for a while.
Internal documents in Hybe, revealed in previous leaks, were presented in light. There is a polemical mention of Taemin and his concept, described as “shota-like”, a disturbing term linked to the sexualization of young boys in certain Japanese media.
Faced with these accusations, the MOAs quickly defended the group. “TXT has nothing to blame yourself for. It is the creative choices of the agency that arise, ”underline many Internet users. On the other hand, some Taemin fans express a real discomfort in the face of these similarities, which they deem too blatant to be fortuitous.
-Even if no one calls into question the talent or the intentions of TXT members, it is Hybe who finds himself at the heart of the controversy. The agency is accused of reusing visual elements already significant in the K-POP universe, at the risk of blurring the singularity of artists.
In an ecosystem as competitive as that of comebacks, every detail counts to stand out. And when one of the most respected artists on the scene, like Taemin, seems to be copied, the reaction of the fans never is long.
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What do you think of the controversy around Love Language?
