A Church of England primary school has told families to discourage their students from singing songs from a well-liked animated musical, citing concerns that the film’s demon-themed content conflicts with Christian values. The move has drawn criticism from parents who say the ban is unnecessary and unfair to children who benefit from the movie.
Lilliput Church of England Infant School in Poole, Dorset, recently issued guidance asking parents to talk to their children about not performing or singing songs from the Netflix hit “KPop Demon Hunters” during school hours, The Telegraph reported.
In a message sent to families, acting head teacher Lloyd Allington said the film’s references to demons were “deeply uncomfortable” for some members of the college’s Christian community.
The term K-pop is brief for Korean popular music, a genre that originated in South Korea.
“KPop Demon Hunters” has drawn attention for mixing typical teen themes with a supernatural plot. Released in June, the movie follows a fictional K-pop girl group that secretly fights demons and includes a rival group called the Saja Boys, a demon boy band whose music explores themes akin to temptation and seduction. It has change into the most-watched film in Netflix’s history and spawned a commercially successful soundtrack.
The movie’s lead single, “Golden,” topped U.K. charts for 10 weeks and was performed by the Royal Air Force band in the course of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Another track, “Soda Pop,” was featured on BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing.”
The school’s concerns stemmed from the film’s use of supernatural imagery and themes. Allington wrote that while parents had the suitable to decide on what media their children engaged with at home, the college was accountable for maintaining an environment sensitive to its faith-based ethos. He noted that for some Christians, references to demons, even in fictional or humorous contexts, were spiritually troubling and could possibly be viewed as contrary to a faith that teaches children to reject evil.
EJAE, a songwriter who served because the singing voice for one among the principal characters within the film and wrote several of the songs featured within the movie, talked about her Christian upbringing and the meaning behind the song “Your Idol” in an earlier interview with Forbes.
“Your Idol” is sung within the film by the demon boy band The Saja Boys and is “concerning the obsession of fans [because the Saja Boys] want them to be obsessed [to control them].”
“That feels like what an Idol is,” EJAE, who has worked with several K-pop bands, said. “I used to be raised Christian and remembered it’s a sin to idolize something. So, it was like a twist of ‘I’ll be your Idol.’ It was kinda creepy.”
“Your Idol” was inspired by EXO’s songs “MAMA” and “Obsession,” she said.
“This is a beneficial opportunity to explore the variety of beliefs inside our community and consider how we will support those of religion who find these themes difficult,” Allington said within the letter. He added that the college’s request reflected its commitment to fostering a Christian environment and never an try and police children’s personal preferences or beliefs.
One father told the BBC he found the college’s guidance “ridiculous” and “a little bit of an imposition.” Identifying himself as an atheist, he said his daughter and her classmates had been having fun with singing the songs together and even performed them at after-school clubs. “It’s only a harmless, a pleasant little thing for them to do to get their confidence up,” he said.
Another parent said the situation was unprecedented and suggested the college had likely felt pressured into taking a stand on the difficulty. Despite the criticism, the parent noted that they typically held the college in high regard.
Following the response from parents, the college revised its message.
In a second letter issued Monday, Allington acknowledged that many parents viewed the film positively, pointing to its messages about courage, kindness and teamwork. He thanked families who had shared their perspectives and said the college recognized the worth some saw within the film’s themes.
He clarified that the college was not asking families to discourage their children from having fun with the movie or its songs outside school, nor would teachers convey that message at school. Instead, the main focus can be on helping students understand that their classmates may hold different religious views and that respectful dialogue was a part of the college’s values.
The school, which serves children ages 4 to 7 and is a voluntary-controlled school under the Diocese of Salisbury, said no disciplinary motion can be taken against students who sing songs from the film or wear related merchandise.
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