French Singer Yseult Accuses DJ R.Tee of Plagiarism in 'DAMDADI' Music Video Featuring (G)I-DLE's Soyeon

French singer Yseult has publicly accused DJ R.Tee of plagiarizing her work in the music video for his new song 'DAMDADI,' which features vocals by (G)I-DLE's Soyeon. The controversy erupted after Yseult pointed out the similarities, prompting the music video's director, Hong Min-ho, to issue an apology acknowledging the inspiration drawn from Yseult's work.

On October 11, Yseult took to her social media to express her anger, stating, "It's infuriating to see my work so blatantly copied." She shared a video comparing scenes from DJ R.Tee's 'DAMDADI' music video with her previous projects, highlighting identical compositions and sequences, such as walking through an office corridor and a collapsing bookshelf.

Yseult argued that the video was not a mere homage but a "copy-paste level of plagiarism," demanding an official explanation and accountability from director Hong Min-ho and the label involved.

As the controversy grew, director Hong Min-ho posted an apology on his Instagram on October 13. He admitted, "It's true that I was inspired by Yseult's work and directing style," adding that his admiration for directors who have worked with her influenced this project. He sincerely apologized for the similarities in certain scenes and expressed regret if Yseult and her team felt uncomfortable. Hong clarified that the concept and direction of the music video were entirely his responsibility, distancing R.Tee and Soyeon from the controversy.

Despite the apology, Yseult reiterated her stance, stating, "This is not about inspiration; it's clear plagiarism." She insists on either acknowledging the source of the creative work or modifying the video itself.

The 'DAMDADI' music video was released on August 10. DJ R.Tee, known for collaborations with artists like BIGBANG, BLACKPINK, WINNER, aespa's Winter, and Jeon Somi, has recently expanded his career by establishing his own label, RTST Label.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr