Travis Scott’s Upcoming Song “KPOP” Is Slammed For Cultural Appropriation And Artwork Resembling The Japanese Flag

Korean netizens are criticizing the artwork and title for Travis Scott‘s upcoming song “KPOP.”

On July 20, it was announced that Travis Scott, The Weeknd, and Bad Bunny would be releasing his new song “KPOP.”

The announcement was made along with artwork accompanying the song. The artwork features a red lollipop in the center, which many Koreans felt was reminiscent of the Japanese flag.

TRAVIS SCOTT.
THE WEEKND.
BAD BUNNY.

FRIDAY. pic.twitter.com/clYt4vaaLe

— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) July 19, 2023

The track is titled “KPOP” pic.twitter.com/G9sr0esdbx

— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) July 19, 2023

The song’s announcement has been met with instant controversy due to the song’s artwork resembling the Japanese flag. Many also felt that the song’s title amounted to appropriation.

Korean netizens criticized the artists, slamming the song’s title and artwork.

• “The song’s title is KPOP, and I have a bad feeling about this.”
• “Isn’t that the Japanese flag?”
• “If the title is KPOP, but they use that for the cover, you know they did this on purpose…”
• “Forget everything else. This is bull$hit.”
• “At least have some blue in the background. What is this?”
• “They are titling a song after another country’s music genre?”
• “It does remind me of the Japanese flag. This sucks.”

• “There is no way that the lollipop was an accident. When they do this, I really hate America’s entertainment industry.”
• “I thought this was the Japanese flag.”
• “Even if it has nothing to do with K-Pop, just the title and the image alone are enough to be microaggressions. They flip out over dreadlocks, but then attack our history, LOL.”
• “LOL…ㅠ.”
• “What is the song about? The song’s title is KPOP, and the picture they are using is that?”
• “The Weeknd’s drama was bull$hit, and now his song is too.”
• “The song’s title and pictures are microaggressive for sure.”

What are your thoughts?