On the evening of July 3rd, the MV “Tuý Hoạ” marked the first collaboration between producer K-ICM and singer Xesi. Both K-ICM and Xesi were placed in their respective musical genres, showcasing their strengths. The visuals of “Tuý Hoạ” also drew attention by creating a scene reminiscent of an ancient martial arts tavern. However, this comeback did not generate the expected impact.
One would think that after a day of releasing the MV, “Tuý Hoạ” would continue to be a peaceful product for K-ICM following a series of previous controversies, but recently, the young man has faced accusations from two parties for “borrowing” an already established image.
Specifically, on the morning of July 4th, a Chinese fan account dedicated to the boys’ love genre posted a lengthy article claiming that K-ICM had plagiarized the costume of the character Hoa Thành from the boys’ love novel “Thiên Quang Tứ Phúc” by author Mặc Hương Đồng Khứu. This is a well-known boys’ love novel set in a fantastical immortal context, loved by audiences in both China and Vietnam. The character Hoa Thành is not only depicted in the novel but also illustrated by various artists and fans, and even cosplayed.
This fan pointed out that K-ICM’s costume design in “Tuý Hoạ” borrowed heavily from the character Hoa Thành in “Thiên Quan Tứ Phúc”, even though a few details were altered to differentiate from the original. Additionally, many netizens expressed outrage that K-ICM used the distinctive outfit of a boys’ love character (male-male romance) in an MV with a romantic plot (male-female romance). After gaining significant attention from the online community, they called for everyone to remain calm and wait for K-ICM to officially respond.
Not stopping there, an artist specializing in Eastern-style paintings also accused K-ICM’s team of using their artwork unlawfully in the MV “Tuý Hoạ”. Specifically, in a flashback scene in the MV, K-ICM is seen painting a portrait of a young woman with a brush.
The drawing on the paper was recreated by K-ICM’s team from the original sketch by the artist to use as a prop for the filming. Comparing the two drawings, one can clearly see the similarities in the lines, with the only difference being that the painting in the MV “Tuý Hoạ” had its clothing and hair colored.
Currently, we have contacted K-ICM’s team and learned that they will respect the diverse opinions and expertise from all sides, thus, the debates will wait for analysis from knowledgeable individuals in this field. Furthermore, K-ICM also stated that this evening, the stylist for the MV “Tuý Hoạ” will make a post explaining the character designs to provide the audience with more comprehensive information.