Did Beyoncé rip off Japanese designer Hajime Sorayama's artwork

Recently surfaced on social media accusing Beyoncé of appropriating striking designs from her highly successful Renaissance Tour. Hajime Sorayama, a Japanese artist, alleged on Instagram that the 42-year-old singer, whose concert film experienced a decline at the box office in its second weekend, had borrowed elements from his creations for a metallic bodysuit and helmet showcased in her recent tour performances.
He posted images from her performances, displaying her in a dazzling silver helmet adorned with antenna-like spikes extending over her ears. Accompanying these were drawings created earlier by the 76-year-old artist.
Sorayama's illustrations echoed the aesthetic of classic mid-20th-century science fiction sketches, featuring women in silver suits and donning helmets with nearly identical needle-like spikes protruding from the ears.

However, BeyHive members criticized the artist in the comments, with some noting that his designs seemed heavily influenced by earlier science fiction conceptual artwork, which could have also inspired Beyoncé.

Sorayama teamed up with The Weeknd for the 10th-anniversary reissue of his 2011 mixtape, "Echoes Of Silence," crafting a new cover. The design showcased a silver android figure in profile with a distinctly robotic appearance, distinct from other designs featuring human women's faces that Sorayama shared earlier in the week.

Sorayama substantiated his argument by featuring a photograph from a Beyoncé concert, showcasing her in a close-up on the colossal video screen. The monumental visage was encased in a streamlined helmet with a sloping hairline, adorned with bell-like cups over her ears, reminiscent of the metallic elements in Sorayama's artwork. Additionally, a distinctive piece of jewelry hung from her lower lip.

Beyoncé seemed to adopt a comparable style, excluding the lip decoration, in the artwork for her single "My House," featured in the end credits of her Renaissance Tour concert film.

A subsequent image revealed a detailed view of a gray T-shirt, likely retailed at one of Beyoncé's concerts.

While the specific design is not currently accessible on the Break My Soul singer's website, similar designs showcasing the same costume are available for purchase at approximately $60.

The photograph of the shirt played a crucial role, suggesting not only Beyoncé's use of Sorayama's artwork but also raising allegations of her profiting from his designs through merchandise sales.

FAQs:

Q1: Is Beyoncé a vegan?
A1: She set on a 22-day vegan challenge in 2013.

Q2: What is Beyoncé's full name?
A2: Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter.