In the highly meticulous world of K-Pop, even the smallest details hold significance, and the design of a lightstick can either solidify or shatter a fan’s devotion. The recent controversy surrounding RIIZE’s latest lightstick design has put this belief to the ultimate challenge, with supporters of NewJeans expressing disappointment and suspicion over potential resemblances.
The dispute revolves around a particular characteristic of both NewJeans and RIIZE lightsticks: the illuminated heart shapes that they emit in darkness.
Despite each lightstick having a unique design in regular lighting, the similar heart-shaped glow has sparked allegations of plagiarism.
We were all looking at the Rise light stick and wondering if it was a cocktail shrimp or a denominator.. but they said it looked like a heart from a distance ㅜㅜㅜ pic.twitter.com/vwnwtnHTtN
— That.. (@dedibinn) May 4, 2024
Outrage Among Fans
After noticing the similarity, NewJeans fans expressed their frustration on social media. Several people accused SM Entertainment, the managing company of RIIZE, of blatantly imitating the distinctive characteristic, affectionately referred to as “Binky,”from ADOR and their management of NewJeans.
“A fan on Twitter shared, “Upon viewing RIIZE’s lightstick, many questioned whether it resembled a cocktail shrimp or a heap of trash. However, it is said to resemble a heart from a distance, causing much frustration!”
https://t.co/NmS0Gqo0ik pic.twitter.com/o1eJi09m4g
— 🐰 (@renebxebxe) May 5, 2024
nah qrts gotta be acting dense on purpose bc that’s clearly two different light sticks.. pic.twitter.com/QAPEyEBi3K https://t.co/ZQoZ4BTMcm
— I (@Ieeyoee) May 5,
Defense and Dispute
Defenders of RIIZE argue that the similarities are only surface-level and that both lightsticks have unique designs when viewed under typical lighting conditions. They propose that the heart-shaped lighting could be a mere coincidence or a popular design element, rather than evidence of copying.
mhj stans in qrts defending that freak with their life over a lightstick that looks nothing like theirs are yall that jobless https://t.co/Mteb2MBk1Q pic.twitter.com/dwigzWloiy
— ᯓ ❥ (@wonbinlvrs) May 5, 2024
History of Redesigns
RIIZE’s lightstick has been the subject of criticism before. Its original design, which was meant to represent an inverted “7,”was met with disapproval. However, after receiving backlash, RIIZE vowed to make changes and released a redesigned version in April 2024.
The influence of RIIZE on students in schools has been a topic of discussion among Korean netizens following the recent scandals surrounding the group.
The conversations involving members Eunseok and Han Seo Hee, and their alleged interactions with other individuals, have sparked significant discussions both on the internet and in real life.
Netizens are recalling past K-pop dating scandals and their influence on school atmospheres, with some expressing fondness for the thrill of discussing celebrity rumors.
Despite criticisms, RIIZE’s popularity among international fans has sparked comparisons to previous generations of K-pop and the drama surrounding fifth-generation groups. This suggests a similar shift in the industry, with constant public and fandom gossip reminiscent of earlier K-pop eras.
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