Pop star Taylor Swift has been accused of "ripping off" a 2016 Spike Jonze-shot Kenzo ad in her latest music video.
Viewers have pointed out that the similarities between the clip for Swift's new release 'Delicate' and the Cannes Lions-winning work from the designer brand are "hard to ignore".
Swift's video shows the star becoming fatigued with the press and her fame, escaping through the corridors of a glamorous hotel to perform a bizarre dance routine in a striking dress.
Kenzo's ad followed a similar plotline, depicting ballerina and actress Margaret Qualley in a colourful ballgown making her escape from a stuffy gala to perform a humorous choreographed performance.
Set to the thumping tune of Mutant Brain by Sam Spiegel and Ape Drums ft. Assassin, the ad won several accolades after its release.
Speaking in 2016, Jaime Robinson, a Titanium Lions juror and chief creative officer at Joan, told AdWeek the exuberant video was a "watershed moment" for how women were portrayed in advertising, adding that it proved to the industry it was OK to show women with emotional complexity and physical intensity.
Online commentators were quick to point out the similarities.
taylor swift's "delicate" video is a poor man's version of spike jonze's ad for Kenzo, this bop deserved more pic.twitter.com/39Ub99bKqc
— christina.jpg (@wtfcylon) March 12, 2018
Taylor Swift’s Delicate x Kenzo’s perfume ad pic.twitter.com/b7o4QQ3Bss— models daily (@supermodeldaiIy) March 12, 2018
The new @taylorswift13 Delicate music video is such an insanely blatant copy/rip-off of the Spike Jonze Kenzo World commercial. The setting, colour palette, choreography, everything.
— Gina Schreuder (@Gina_and_tonic) March 12, 2018
do you think taylor swift saw the KENZO World ad and just told her producer “I want a less cool version of that?” — mandy boddy (@mandyboddy) March 12, 2018
The Drum has reached out to Kenzo for further comment. Page Six claimed that a Kenzo rep posted on Twitter: “Listen Tay, I feel you. It’s hard to stay fresh. Call us, we can help."
We have also contacted Joseph Khan, the director behind Taylor's video for a statement.