BLACKPINK’s Lisa faces accusations as Chinese designer claims plagiarism of outfit design in 'Rockstar' MV

Lisa, the globally renowned member of BLACKPINK, made a splash with the release of her highly anticipated solo music project, ‘Rockstar’, on June 28. As fans and critics alike marveled at her electrifying comeback and the visually stunning music video accompanying it, controversy soon followed when Chinese designer Jewel Y took to Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), a popular Chinese social media platform, to accuse Lisa's stylist of plagiarism.
The focal point of Jewel Y's accusation centered around a star-shaped leather halter top featured in Lisa's ‘Rockstar’ music video, giving rockstar vibes. According to Jewel Y, this design bore striking similarities to one of her own creations from 2020. She alleged that a Korean or British stylist had borrowed her star top during that time, effectively appropriating her idea and subsequently popularizing it across social media and fashion circles.
In her posts, Jewel Y elaborated that her fashion line had been produced in London and utilized for international photoshoots before she pivoted to a career in makeup amidst the latter stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to her brand's limited visibility in the Chinese market, Jewel Y admitted her designs were not formally copyrighted, a point that sparked debates over the legitimacy of her claims.
Amidst the controversy, diverse opinions have surfaced online. Commenters have varied perspectives, with one stating, "Isn't a star shape too common?" Another pointed out the difference, noting, "Your design is a solid star, but Lisa’s is assembled to form a pentagon inside". Contrarily, a supporter of Lisa's stylist defended, "I also find Lisa’s design more appealing. If it’s plagiarism, the stylist’s aesthetics are on another level".
However, skepticism arose with comments like, "You ignored so many cases, but you’re making a fuss over Lisa. Aren’t you taking advantage of her popularity?" and "The important thing is you said your design isn’t copyrighted. Anyone can claim they thought of it first!" These viewpoints reflect the ongoing debate over originality and interpretation in the fashion world.
In truth, star-shaped crop tops are quite common. A brief Google search unveils numerous similar designs in various colors and materials offered by different brands. And Lisa's outfit in the ‘Rockstar’, aside from the star top which is considered custom-made for the music video, the entirety of Lisa's wardrobe featured pieces from esteemed brands like Diesel, KNWLS, and Rombaut. Earlier this year, BLACKPINK's Lisa launched her own label, LLOUD, after ending her solo contract with YG Entertainment.