Starship Entertainment Accused Of Plagiarizing BTS For WJSN’s Photo Book
Starship Entertainment is receiving criticism from fans, due to the striking similarities between their new WJSN (Cosmic Girls) photo book and BTS‘s album designs.
On July 7, WJSN dropped video teasers for their 1st Photo Book [ON&OFF], which will be released on August 12.
The book has two versions: PERSONA: ON and EGO: OFF.
According to fans, the books’ cover art and concept are too similar to BTS’s work to be coincidental.
Like BTS’s MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA and MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 albums, WJSN’s photo book uses Jungian psychology (the persona and ego) as a concept. MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 features the songs “Intro: Persona”, “Interlude: Shadow”, and “Outro: Ego”.
EGO: OFF and MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA have very similar white text and a minimalist cover design threaded with white lines.
Moreover, the color scheme for EGO: OFF is nearly identical to that of BTS’s cover art for their Japanese single album Lights.
Both WJSN fans and BTS are now pointing fingers at Starship Entertainment, blaming WJSN’s agency for the alleged plagiarism.
starship was this really necessary? our wjsn girls deserve so much better than a photo book that's a little too similar to bts' album :( i mean yeah it's fine to use the words persona and ego but this whole design is a little too much… the girls don't need that kinda promotion pic.twitter.com/JGV09Fgb7P
— 뽐이 🌊 (@dfcnvs_) July 7, 2020
"Can I copy your homework?"
"Yeah just don’t make it look too
obvious."Starship really did wjsn dirty…even the fk font is the same as BTS’ pic.twitter.com/fvXcah2rUa
— HIATUS GO生 200619 Hwang Hyunjin (@softforhyunie) July 7, 2020
I don't care if this is just a photobook, this is so irresponsable. The creative director should have know better than to ride over the success of other people's creations. This plagiarism. STARSHIP is just staining WJSN's efforts and good image, they deserve better#BTS #WJSN pic.twitter.com/3ohEKmGgD2
— 𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔞♔𖧵⁷ (@mmr_ax) July 7, 2020
Additionally, Ujungs are now apologizing to ARMYs on behalf of the agency, asking BTS fans not to take out their anger on WJSN.
actually armys i hope you can forgive wjsn ): starship didn't know bts invented those words. i am sorry bts invented everything in the world ): i hope armys can forgive wjsn and ujungs for this ): sorry bts for using Words
— ִִֶֶָ (@aboutwjsn) July 7, 2020
wjsn is not at fault. it's the companys fault completely for plagiarising the names & layouts of two of BTS's albums. Please do not attack the members or say rude things about them because I am very sure they would not have a say in this. We need an email template now.
— rhea⁷ misses jaankook (@BOCASJE0N) July 7, 2020