“We Won’t Stay Silent”: Artists Slam Chris Brown For ‘Copying’ Their Work In New Music Video

Famed abuser, harasser and musician Chris Brown has come under fire for the music video for his latest single, ‘Wobbled Up’ with G-Easy and Nicki Minaj, as two artists claim it rips directly from their work without compensation or credit.

The video, co-directed by Brown and frequent collaborator Arrad, is a surreal, hyper-sexualised journey through a tropical world. And, according to artist Marius Sperlich, it directly rips off two of his works shared online last October and August, which transform nipples into washing machine dials and bums into Island beaches. It, uh, makes more sense when you look at it.

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Apparently my work got copied by the director who made the new @chrisbrownofficial @nickiminaj @g_eazy music video “Wobble Up” – without permission, without credit – along with works of other famous artists like @tonyfutura and @vanessamckeown  #changeindustry For reference: A concept of @tonyfutura got copied, too. (Last two pictures) Intellectual Property has to be protected at any cost! Now that the internet and social media proliferate content instantly. We need to make sure that the creative source is present from first launch. This unfortunately happens offers in the creative industry. Nowadays its very easy to copy things. For many the internet is just an open source of concepts, ideas and free content. Nobody cares about creation, originals and credit anymore. Especially if you are a young and an emerging artist….most cant afford a lawyer for a lawsuit. So most of them remain silent – We won’t stay silent. Thanks for your help.

A post shared by Marius Sperlich (@mariussperlich) on May 20, 2019 at 10:13pm PDT

Perlich says that he “won’t stay silent” on the issue, as issues of intellectual property are constant on the internet, and often bigger artists/brands profit off ideas and concepts lifted from ‘young, emerging artists’ who can’t afford to sue. In addition to his own work, Perlich notes similarities to the video’s bright, hyper-sexualised surreal world to the work of artists Tony Futura and Vanessa McKeown.

Futura also posted about the video, clarifying that he was not approached or credited either. He asks followers to proliferate the message as “credit saves creativity”; a few hours later, prolific account Diet Prada — who, with 1.3 million followers, has become a high-fashion watchdog worthy of a lengthy NYT profile — picked it up.

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@chrisbrownofficial , famed woman beater, has a new vice. In the just-released music video for “Wobble Up” featuring @nickiminaj and @g_eazy , Brown and co-director @arrad seem to be ripping concepts from artists @mariussperlich and @tonyfutura . Planning to credit them sometime in the near future? Or did their checks get lost in the mail? • #mariussperlich #tonyfutura #art #artist #chrisbrown #geazy #copycat #visuals #concept #body #bodypaint #beachbum #bootybuilding #tropical #beach #lemon #fruit #photography #wiwt #ootd #sand #palmtrees #sun #dietprada

A post shared by Diet Prada ™ (@diet_prada) on May 21, 2019 at 7:05am PDT

On their Instagram stories, Diet Prada catalogued more similarities to artists’ works across the music video. In addition to Perlich, Futura and McKeon, the account saw similarities to work by Catherine Losing, Jamie Calderon and designer Paul Fuentes.

Source: Diet Prada Instagram stories.

Source: Diet Prada Instagram stories.

As the story has gained traction, Purlich has provided two updates. He reminds people that it’s likely the artists involved weren’t across the art direction, and that critics should “stay friendly please”, and then that he has contacted the video’s production company directly.

Brown’s team has, as of publication, not publicly commented on the allegations.