Choreographer Under Fire For “Recycling” Move From Red Velvet’s “Ice Cream Cake” In BLACKPINK’s “Ice Cream”

Similar titles with similar choreography.

Following the release of BLACKPINK‘s “Ice Cream” music video with Selena Gomez today, choreographer Kyle Hanagami has come under fire for reusing a move from Red Velvet‘s “Ice Cream Cake”.

Kyle Hanagami has been choreographing girl group songs for years, from Girls’ Generation‘s “You Think” in 2015 to today’s new release, BLACKPINK’s “Ice Cream”.

While many enjoy his cute and energetic moves, several fandoms have accused him of lacking imagination and not paying the groups’ strengths in the past. Now, “Ice Cream” has become the icing on the criticism cake.

| BLACKPINK/YouTube

Clips of the “Ice Cream” choreography are dotted throughout BLACKPINK’s fun and colorful music video. But upon watching the MV, several K-Pop fans noticed that this move seemed strangely familiar.

| BLACKPINK/YouTube

It didn’t take everyone long to realise that it’s very similar to a move in “Ice Cream Cake” by Red Velvet—a song that was also choreographed by Kyle Hanagami back in 2015.

| SMTOWN/YouTube 

Some fans of both groups were excited to see these “BlackVelvet” crumbs in the choreography. However, many more are criticizing Kyle Hanagami for “recycling” the same move in two songs with very similar titles and themes.

While both fandoms seem to be handling the matter maturely with little animosity, BLINKs and ReVeluvs are agreeing that both BLACKPINK and Red Velvet deserved better than unoriginal choreography.

Some are even calling on SM Entertainment to sue Hanagami, though others believe that would be overkill. As of right now, neither Kyle Hanagami nor the groups’ agencies have given a statement on the similarities. Given that both groups are close friends, many expect there won’t be any serious trouble between their companies.

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