Red Velvet’s Seulgi Hit With Viral “Brat” Plagiarism Accusations
Red Velvet‘s Seulgi has sparked intense online debate following the release of her Accidentally on Purpose comeback teaser. The stunning visual — titled “Album Trailer” — has divided international fans’ opinions, with some making unexpected comparisons to Western pop star Charli XCX.
In the captivating teaser, Seulgi commands the screen in a sleek all-black outfit that gives major superhero vibes — think Batwoman/Catwoman meets high fashion. The clip shows the fierce idol dramatically crashing what appears to be an exclusive gathering, confidently striding across a table while pulsing beats play in the background.
Almost immediately after the teaser dropped, Twitter erupted with comments drawing parallels between Seulgi’s concept and Charli XCX’s wildly popular “brat” aesthetic. International fans particularly pointed to the table-walking sequence, Seulgi’s edgy styling, and the club-ready instrumental as evidence of supposed inspiration.
charli xcx https://t.co/LX8W5QrmL9
— edm dj dolly (@dawllyana) February 23, 2025
seulgi reheating brat nachos WE NEEDED THIS pic.twitter.com/YNNZxluGMH
— JJ SEEING AESPA🏂 (@seulgone) February 23, 2025
they’re trying to act like this wasn’t taken right off of charli’s plate in the replies and quotes pic.twitter.com/zqE8i3Locs https://t.co/WEIBiVhFEW
— ۟ (@chinabrbie) February 24, 2025
However, ReVeluvs (Red Velvet fans) have passionately defended their idol against these claims. Many argue that Seulgi’s concept clearly draws from classic vigilante and superhero narratives rather than borrowing from Charli XCX.
Apparently you're not allowed to dance on tables or make electronic/dance music(both things seulgi has done before brat came out). Pointing out similarities is cool but it feels like #that album is all you guys know. https://t.co/xllnT3YSZC pic.twitter.com/dAbqWYsLLm
— By.Halle (@KangHalle) February 24, 2025
Some have also noted that the musical elements in the teaser are distinct enough from “brat” to stand as their own artistic expression.
Idiots in the quotes talking about she copying BRAT y’all know nothing about music outside of mainstream pop and it shows https://t.co/4QcK8rOKJd
— Sky 💥 🐈⬛ (@yeriyeeun) February 24, 2025
People randomly saying this is charlie xcx and brat nachos… Do yall ever heard about something called DUBSTEP and how SM has a history with it? 😭 https://t.co/338zEwXw4F
— sabi 🦇 (@aquarieee) February 24, 2025
Regardless of where you stand on the debate, there’s no denying that Seulgi has successfully captured everyone’s attention. The teaser has successfully generated buzz across social media platforms, with everyone now eager to see the full concept when Accidentally on Purpose officially releases. You can check out the album trailer for Seulgi’s comeback below!
