The side-by-side comparisons are undeniable.
Koreaboo
HYBE girl group ILLIT‘s creative team is facing allegations of plagiarism yet again, this time from the internet.
The recently surfaced allegations involve ILLIT’s concept photos for “Not Cute Anymore.”
These pictures featured the members sporting chic outfits paired with some standout hair accessories, such as retro flip phones as hair clips and wired earphones as hair ribbons.
Netizens have pointed out that these concept photos were directly lifted from popular Xiaohongshu posts by a Chinese creator.
While fans defended the girl group, arguing that the concept is currently trending and that multiple social media creators and celebrities have recreated similar photos…
Well yeah every kpop concept is just a moodboard of random shit https://t.co/vVAocxivvk
— elf boyfriend (@elfbfbaby) February 28, 2026
Bruh just open pinterest and you will see much inspo for it, it’s just a basic concept and everyone can do it pic.twitter.com/gTkSEOZwHk
— N★T cute (@Nyhemyehed9) February 27, 2026
vogue korea for their January issue.. its a TREND. https://t.co/fA2sCva47d pic.twitter.com/z1m6oKHMjS
— illluvit4ever (@leenahelloo) February 28, 2026
It’s a fucking trend. Mf even dove Cameron joined.. oh yall are washed https://t.co/jewOzUbXCq pic.twitter.com/ozsgFevcTU
— s★li (@prkmorute) February 27, 2026
Others countered that using pictures from social media as inspiration and copying them for official concept photos were two separate things.
Creative people even change trends to give them a new look, the post of this Chinese woman was posted even before it all became viral, they took all three of her approaches, not even one https://t.co/BRTtQei5RR pic.twitter.com/DVJwO2G6vB
— sofi🌙 (@giveupdontup) February 28, 2026
one thing is taking inspiration from pinterest but they literally copied even the hairstyle 😭 https://t.co/kR9u8S3MF4 pic.twitter.com/yGcE8LaCcg
— 𝜗𝜚 (@baesfilms) February 27, 2026
when i said instead of copying the plan they should’ve just opened pinterest and think a little, I didn’t mean THAT little😭 https://t.co/jh5YPY0gYL
— j (@kaivore) February 27, 2026
they’re literally the same shit not even inspiration just full on plagiarism… https://t.co/8P1qF2hFVk
— ۟ (@hybendings) February 27, 2026
Some also complained that ILLIT’s team appeared to lack any original creative vision for the group and instead went with whatever is trendy at the moment.
plagiarism thing aside, this groups’ aesthetic is really just following whatever is trendy instead of creating their own trends lol that’s how you know the creative director has no creativity or vision. they just do whatever is popular and copy paste it. they don’t give a twist… https://t.co/J8Umgg41Gb
— ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ (@bk_burnr) February 28, 2026
i genuinely feel bad for that group, such an lazy, lack of creativity company and the world doesn’t look at the directors, and the people behind the curtains they look at the people presenting it … it’s sad but this is what happens when you don’t care about ur work ethic. https://t.co/OdDUDY0LGx
— 𖤍 (@twentyonetw1nks) February 27, 2026