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Epex ‘Anthem of Teen Spirit’: Fans blame label for music video referencing Jewish Holocaust

The K-pop group's lyrics include 'Crystal night' which many feel refers to Kristallnacht, a massacre led by Nazis

Rookie boy group Epex has been turning heads with their comebacks for addressing real issues like mental health and anxiety in their music. However, their label and latest comeback have come under fire for being insensitive and referencing the Holocaust which had led to the systematic genocide of almost six million Jewish people.

Epex recently came back with their third mini-album ‘Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 1. 21st Century Boys’ and had shared that they would be addressing the anxiety and loneliness that today’s generation feel. The music video for the title track ‘Anthem of Teen Spirit’ first had Epex fans excited as the teasers made it seem like we would be getting a sci-fi robot action-themed concept. Unfortunately, it caused quite a stir when it was released on April 11.

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Epex’s music video slammed as insensitive

International, as well as Korean fans noticed that the lyrics for ‘Anthem of Teen Spirit’ clearly mentioned ‘Crystal Night’ aka Kristallnacht, an event in history where Nazi forces and civilians massacred Jewish people in Germany in 1938. The Korean phrase used in the music video is exactly what Kristallnacht was referred to in Korea. There were also other lyrics like ‘I see them burning raw / Crystal night is coming’ which horrified viewers. Combined with guns and men hunting Epex, the music video has been labelled as insensitive.

Furthermore, Epex is seen in outfits like military uniforms which when coupled with the lyrics made viewers feel as if they were channelling Nazi soldiers even if it wasn’t intentional. One of the members even had a badge of the Fendi logo which unfortunately looked quite similar to the Nazi symbol in this context. Fans further reached out to one of the English lyricists who shared that their lyrics were rewritten and to contact the label C9 for the situation.

Watch the music video below.

'I'm disgusted'

One user tweeted, “Epex’s latest tt references a horrible event in german history where jewish people were terrorised and murdered. please don’t support this song. i’m disgusted and the company + songwriters should apologise. jewish suffering is not an aesthetic.” Another was shocked, “Paired with ‘i see them burning raw’ and these outfits.. Nah.” One user added, “Oh my god what is this …… they did them dirty with this whole cb.” Another fan posted, “I will never forgive c9 for doing this to epex, there are many shitty companies out there but c9 took it step further, they are the one to blame, they make decisions and made this song, how can they sabotage their own rookie group, didnt they learn from lockdown?”

One felt, “I think epex are a social experiment or something cause how can you f**k up someones career this early on??” Another shared, “I hope you all understand that these are not the EPEX members' fault. Please help us reach out C9 Entertainment so this should be addressed. Our fanbase accounts will release a template soon. I hope you will help us.” One said, “Disband c9 and get these boys with a different company.”

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