Director of Taylor Swift's Delicate video accused of copying Spike Jonze’s Kenzo advert

Date
13 March 2018

The video for Taylor Swift’s Delicate has been accused of copying Spike Jonze’s advert for Kenzo World. Released on Sunday 11 March and directed by the singer’s long-time collaborator Joseph Kahn, the video sees Taylor bored at a swanky gala in an opulent building, before becoming invisible and letting loose by dancing and pulling faces to enjoy her anonymity.

The award-winning Kenzo World ad by Spike Jonze, released in August 2016, drew from his iconic video for Fatboy Slim’s Weapon of Choice starring Christopher Walken, and depicted ballerina and actress Margaret Qualley following a similar narrative.

Online critics include New York Magazine’s senior producer of original video, Kenny Wassus, who called Taylor’s video “the drunk sorority knockoff” of the Kenzo ad and tweeted a slew of direct comparisons between the two films. By way of proof, this checklist features stills from the two films side by side to show likeness, including Taylor’s bout of silly faces and “angry gorilla dance”, her gesturing wildly at an oblivious bystander, a “lonely contemplative look off-camera”, “the dolly shot ending with a luke-warm smile”, “the profile tracking shot of [a] militant walk” and a ballet leap. Others have pointed out the similarity in scenery, costume and overall tone of the entire video.

Page Six has claimed that a Kenzo representative commented on the video, stating “Listen Tay, I feel you. It’s hard to stay fresh. Call us, we can help.”

Above

Spike Jonze: Kenzo World ad

Above

Joseph Kahn: Delicate for Taylor Swift

Above

Spike Jonze: Kenzo World ad

Above

Joseph Kahn: Delicate for Taylor Swift

Above

Spike Jonze: Kenzo World ad

Above

Joseph Kahn: Delicate for Taylor Swift

Share Article

Further Info

About the Author

Jenny Brewer

Jenny oversees our editorial output across work, news and features. She was previously It’s Nice That's news editor. Get in touch with any big creative stories, tips, pitches, news and opinions, or questions about all things editorial.

It's Nice That Newsletters

Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world.