Miu Miu’s New Lingerie Line Sparks Backlash from Chinese Netizens – Blame Pointed at IVE’s Jang Wonyoung?
Recently, Miu Miu’s Instagram posts featuring their new lingerie line were unexpectedly bombarded with harsh criticism from Chinese netizens. Most of these comments call out the fashion brand for still collaborating with IVE’s Jang Wonyoung, accusing them of disrespecting their country with strong words.
Towards the end of April, IVE officially dropped “HEYA,” marking their comeback after over 6 months. However, some Chinese netizens didn’t quite vibe with the group’s comeback due to controversies surrounding the MV’s costumes.
“HEYA” MV draws inspiration from Eastern goddesses as its main concept, complete with traditional and unique details. However, shortly after its release, IVE was accused of borrowing from Chinese culture to promote Korean traditional culture, sparking a fierce backlash from Chinese netizens.
Props used in the MV, like gombangdae smoking pipes, landscape paintings, coin patterns, embroidered flower shoes, and three-stick fans, were deemed by many Chinese netizens as originating from and symbolizing their own culture.
Moreover, since Jang Wonyoung is currently Miu Miu’s global ambassador, the brand is also facing criticism from Chinese netizens. As a top 4th gen idol who boasts a massive fan base, so much of the criticism is directed towards Jang Wonyoung.
Though Starship, IVE’s company, has yet to address these accusations, many believe it’s more about cultural similarities between East Asian countries than outright plagiarism.
Source: k14
