Do you hear that? That isn’t the sound of applause after another sold-out stadium show. That is the sound of the internet shattering into pieces for the hundredth time, debating the exact same question: who copied whom, and why does everything in modern pop look exactly the same?
Jennie Kim, a leading member of the global powerhouse BLACKPINK, is widely recognized as a premier fashion icon and a central figure in modern pop culture. Known for her massive market influence, her aesthetic choices and solo musical projects regularly establish mainstream trends. However, this level of visibility has subjected her to intense public scrutiny, resulting in multiple, specific allegations of copycat copycat behavior and plagiaris.
The following sections provide a factual, objective breakdown of the most significant controversies surrounding allegations of visual and musical copying by Jennie, alongside instances where the narrative was reversed
The Bollywood Music Controversy: "Like Jennie" vs. "Rani's Intro"
Visual and Fashion Aesthetics: Western Pop vs. Subculture Adaptations
Western Pop Influence: Critics often note that Jennie’s evolving style mirrors the blueprints established by Western icons like Ariana Grande and Rihanna. Over the years, observers have highlighted distinct similarities in her stage wardrobe, from signature high ponytails with bows to structured, heavy corsets. Jennie herself has openly named Rihanna as one of her biggest career inspirations.
Scaling Subcultures: Although Jennie is often credited with introducing the Y2K and Coquette aesthetics to East Asian mainstream fashion, experts point out that these trends originated within niche TikTok and Instagram communities. Rather than inventing these styles, her creative team specializes in taking existing internet subcultures and amplifying them on a global scale.
TWICE TWICE TWICE
According to media reports by WIONand consumer reactions on social networks, the presentation was so closely aligned that TWICE’s production team faced immediate allegations of replicating Jennie’s specific solo release, “Zen,” nearly frame-for-frame. To maintain a balanced analysis, industry data demonstrates that Jennie’s signature concepts are far more frequently duplicated by competing agencies than the other way around. Her influence is so vast that the “copycat” label is often turned against other major acts who attempt to mirror her creative blueprints.
A high-profile instance of this occurred in May 2025, when the rival K-pop girl group TWICE unveiled promotional visual materials for an upcoming musical project. According to international media reports by WION, consumer networks instantly flagged the presentation for its overwhelming similarities to Jennie’s solo release, “Zen”.
The structural parallels between the two projects were evident across multiple production levels:
Wardrobe Specifications: Jennie’s original look in “Zen” featured a distinct styling combination of cropped white tops, light blue asymmetric skirts, and matching knee socks. TWICE’s teaser utilized an identical wardrobe palette, dressing the members in color-blocked crop-tops, blue structural skirts, and athletic sock.
Visual Framing and Concept: The creative core of Jennie’s music video relied on a minimalist frame where multiple digital “clones” of the artist interacted with one another. TWICE’s production team mirrored this exact multi-clone aesthetic, placing the group within an identical, stripped-back visual backdrop.
The resulting media and fan backlash demonstrated that while Jennie is frequently scrutinized for her inspirations, her specific solo work functions as a primary blueprint within the industry, leaving competing creative teams highly vulnerable to plagiarism allegations when they get too close to her aesthetic
The "Zen" Music Video vs. XG’s "Howling"
In January 2025, right before the release of her album Ruby, Jennie released the music video for her track “Zen.” The video immediately sparked heavy controversy across Asian media circles. Viewers noticed a striking visual resemblance to the music video for “Howling,” a track released by the Japanese global girl group XG.
The complaints did not just target the identical dark, gritty editing style, but also highly specific camera framings. Jennie adopted a fierce, bold warrior persona in the video, utilizing near-identical accessories, jewelry, and close-up facial shots that had previously defined XG’s concepts.
The Choreography for Her Debut Single "SOLO"
When Jennie made her debut as BLACKPINK’s first soloist in 2018 with the megahit “SOLO” online communities immediately erupted with comparisons drawing parallels between her dance routine and Western pop stars. Plagiarism of movement and dance aesthetics rooted in Western R&B and pop.
Critics and dance enthusiasts pointed out that key elements of the chorus choreography (including a signature finger gesture) and the overall movement dynamics closely mirrored routines by <strong>Rihanna</strong> (whom Jennie has frequently cited as an idol) and <strong>Ariana Grande</strong>. The issue was further amplified by the fact that the backup dancer formations and Jennie’s positioning in the music video heavily resembled iconic live performance moments from these Western artists.
The Sound Structure and The Visual Concept of "Mantra" vs. '90s and '00s Pop Culture
The visual presentation of the “Mantra” era also faced criticism for its lack of originality due to accusations of directly replicating Y2K-era music video aesthetics. In the music video, Jennie is seen posing next to a classic DeLorean car and performing against specific Californian backdrops, which led fashion and film critics to accuse her creative team of executing a frame-by-frame recreation of past music videos by Britney Spears and Rihanna, specifically from her “Shut Up and Drive” era, without introducing any new or distinct artistic value to the concept.
THE TAKEAWAY
In current entertainment industry, where originality is a scarce commodity, Jennie’s case perfectly illustrates how major labels shamelessly prey on other people’s hard work. Hiding behind words like “inspiration” and “trendsetting” becomes downright laughable when you lay out the facts. The unapologetic borrowing of a Bollywood beat in the song “Like Jennie” was no artistic synthesis—it was simply taking the easy way out and showing a blatant lack of respect for the original creators .
Instead of creating anything of her own, Jennie’s creative team operates like a massive corporate machine: they snatch niche, grassroots aesthetics from the internet, wrap them in pretty packaging, and sell them to the masses as the artist’s “unique style.”
The fact that the industry later copies her isn’t a reflection of her artistic genius, but rather a testament to her mammoth marketing power. Ultimately, Jennie is less of a style icon and more of a highly efficient marketing product, taking the credit for concepts that were shamelessly lifted from others
