The Morning Coffee That Tastes Like… Controversy?
So… my little birds have been BUSY today. I was just settling in with my morning latte when my notifications started blowing up. It seems like the K-netizens have found a new bone to pick, and this time, it involves a massive coffee franchise and two of our favorite boy groups. The tea is absolutely SCALDING today, and honestly? My jaw dropped a little when I saw the side-by-side comparisons circulating on the community boards. We are talking about a viral post on TheQoo that has already racked up over 22,000 views and nearly 300 comments in record time. The topic? A striking similarity between NCT Wish’s brand-new Mega Coffee advertisement and a certified classic from the TXT archives.
Let’s set the scene for those of you who might have been sleeping. Recently, Mega Coffee released their latest promotional campaign featuring the bright and talented boys of NCT Wish. The ad is titled “Birth of a Star” (별의 탄생). On its own, it’s a cute, whimsical piece of content that fits the group’s refreshing image perfectly. However, the moment it hit the internet, long-time MOAs (Tomorrow X Together fans) felt a massive wave of déjà vu. They immediately pointed back to TXT’s iconic music video for “Nap of a Star” (별의 낮잠), which was released previously. Now, I’m not saying names just yet, but the creative team behind this new ad might have some explaining to do to the fans who remember every frame of that original masterpiece.
Blast from the Past: TXT’s Original Masterpiece
To understand why people are so worked up, we have to talk about why “Nap of a Star” was such a big deal. Previously, Big Hit (now HYBE) was establishing the “TXT Universe” (TU), and that specific music video was the cornerstone of their storytelling. It used a very specific, very unique “Paper Theater” or “Silent Film” aesthetic. It featured muted vintage tones, specific split-screen layouts, and a storybook-style framing that felt entirely original in the K-pop landscape at the time. It wasn’t just a music video; it was a piece of art that defined TXT’s early identity. When a group puts that much effort into a signature look, their fans tend to become very protective of it—and for good reason.
The controversy isn’t just about the “vibe” or the general theme of stars. If it were just about stars, we’d be accusing half the industry of plagiarism! No, the issue here is the technical execution. Netizens are pointing out that the layout, the specific way the screens are divided, and even the font-work and framing choices in the NCT Wish x Mega Coffee ad seem to mirror the “Nap of a Star” storyboard almost beat-for-beat in certain segments. Allegedly, the similarities are so specific that it’s hard to argue it’s just a coincidence of “great minds thinking alike.” When you have two videos titled so similarly—”Nap of a Star” vs. “Birth of a Star”—and they share a visual DNA this close, the internet is going to notice.
“I actually thought this was a TXT parody or a tribute at first. The layout is literally identical. Did the ad agency just copy-paste the original storyboard? This is too much.” – Anonymous TheQoo User
Breaking Down the ‘Star’ Layouts
If we look closely at the screenshots provided by eagle-eyed fans, the framing is what really stands out. Both pieces of content use a 4:3 aspect ratio feel within a modern frame, often utilizing a multi-panel layout where characters interact across the borders of the boxes. In the TXT version, this was used to show the members in different parts of a forest or a dreamscape. In the NCT Wish ad, it’s used to show the members enjoying their coffee. But the way the lines divide the screen—the specific thickness of the borders and the placement of the text—feels like a direct reference. According to eyewitnesses on social media, the transitions even share a similar rhythmic flow.
Another point of contention is the color grading. The Mega Coffee ad has adopted a soft, grainy, sepia-adjacent filter that looks remarkably like the one used by the director of “Nap of a Star.” While vintage aesthetics are certainly trending currently, the combination of the star-themed title, the split-screen panels, and the specific storybook filter is creating a perfect storm of allegations. Reportedly, some fans have even gone as far as to look up the production company behind the Mega Coffee ad to see if there’s any overlap in staff, though no official connection has been confirmed yet. It’s a classic case of “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” but in the world of K-pop branding, it usually just leads to a lot of deleted tweets and heated arguments.
The Court of Public Opinion (Netizens Weigh In)
As you can imagine, the comments sections are a total battlefield. On one side, you have fans who are genuinely upset, feeling that TXT’s creative legacy is being diluted for a commercial. They argue that “Nap of a Star” is a sacred part of the group’s lore and shouldn’t be used as a template for a coffee commercial. On the other side, there are those who defend NCT Wish and the ad agency, claiming that these visual tropes—split screens, stars, and vintage filters—are common property in the creative world. They suggest that the ad is simply following a “retro-cute” trend that is popular right now.
“Wait, I’m an NCTzen and even I have to admit this looks exactly like the TXT MV. The agency should have been more careful. The boys are going to get hate for something they didn’t even design.” – Concerned Fan on X
The debate has spread from TheQoo to X (formerly Twitter) and international forums like Reddit. While SYNC SEOUL cannot independently confirm if the creators of the Mega Coffee ad intentionally referenced TXT, the visual evidence is certainly fueling the fire. Some netizens are calling for the ad agency to release a statement, while others are simply mocking the lack of “originality” in corporate advertising. It’s a tough spot for NCT Wish, who are just the faces of the campaign and likely had zero input on the video’s editing or layout. They’re caught in the crossfire of a creative dispute that happened in a boardroom they weren’t even in.
Sua’s Hot Take: Inspiration or Invitation for Drama?
Let’s get real for a second—I’ve seen a lot of these “plagiarism” scandals in my time, and most of them are just fans being overprotective. But this one? This one feels a bit different. When the title of the ad is almost a direct flip of the original MV title, you are basically inviting the comparison. It’s like the creative director was asking for someone to notice. In an industry as competitive as K-pop, where “concept” is everything, you have to be smarter than this. You can’t just take a very specific, award-winning aesthetic from a top-tier group and think nobody will notice, especially not nowadays when every fan is a digital detective with a high-def screen.
Is it plagiarism? Legally, probably not. You can’t really copyright a split-screen layout or the concept of a “star.” But is it a “copy-paste” job in terms of creative spirit? It certainly looks that way. My theory? The ad agency probably put “TXT Nap of a Star” on their mood board for “inspiration” and then forgot to actually change enough of it to make it original. It happens more often than you’d think. Someone in a meeting says, “We want it to feel like a storybook,” and then they just follow the most successful example they can find. Unfortunately for them, MOAs never forget, and the internet never sleeps.
“The titles are the biggest giveaway for me. ‘Nap of a Star’ to ‘Birth of a Star’? They weren’t even trying to hide it. It’s embarrassing for the brand.” – Top Comment on TheQoo
Where Do We Go From Here?
As of right now, neither SM Entertainment nor Mega Coffee has issued a formal response to the growing noise online. Usually, in these situations, the companies stay silent and hope the next big news cycle washes it away. And let’s be honest, in the K-pop world, there’s always a new scandal around the corner. However, if the backlash continues to grow, we might see a subtle edit to the ad or a quiet removal of the most controversial frames. The fans are currently trending hashtags, and if the engagement numbers keep climbing, the brand might have to acknowledge the “inspiration” behind their latest clip.
For NCT Wish, this is a bit of a bummer. They’ve been doing so well with their recent promotions, and they really are the perfect fit for a bright, energetic brand like Mega Coffee. It’s a shame that their hard work is being overshadowed by a conversation about creative ethics and storyboard similarities. Hopefully, the fans can direct their frustration toward the production team rather than the idols themselves. After all, the boys are just there to drink the coffee and look cute—which they do very well, if I do say so myself!
We’ll be keeping a very close eye on this one. If a statement drops or if the ad suddenly disappears from YouTube, you’ll be the first to know. For now, the debate rages on: is it a harmless homage or a blatant rip-off? The community pulse suggests that people are leaning toward the latter, but in the world of gossip, things can change in a heartbeat. Stay tuned, stay curious, and maybe think twice before you order that “Star” themed drink today. The tea is definitely more interesting than the coffee right now! 👀🍵
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*This article contains unconfirmed reports and should be treated as rumor until officially confirmed. SYNC SEOUL does not make claims about the personal lives of celebrities beyond what is reported by credible sources.*
What do you think — real tea or nothing burger? Is the layout too close for comfort, or are fans overreacting to a common aesthetic? Sound off in the comments!
