Following The Choreography Debate, ATEEZ’s 2019 Single ‘Say My Name’ Returns To The World Digital Song Sales Chart.

ATEEZ are no strangers to the Billboard chart, having nearly two dozen entries on World Digital Song Sales, but their latest achievement demonstrates how fans are taking their support to the charts.

The outpouring of support follows a growing controversy in which ATEZ fans—and possibly ATEEZ themselves—claim that a famous choreographer stole a signature move from the “Say My Name” dance on television.

The debate began when the South Korean-based dance crew We Dem Boyz (who have worked with K-pop acts such as CL, SEVENTEEN, and SuperM on choreography) performed the song “New Thing” on Korea’s popular dance-battle show Street Man Fighter. “New Thing,” sung by chart-topping solo star Zico and hip-hop trio Homies, has been climbing Korea’s local charts thanks to the viral #NewThingChallenge dance. Fans quickly noticed that one part reminded them of a key move from “Say My Name.”

We Dem Boyz leader Vata created and sequenced the “New Thing” choreography for a Street Man Fighter episode. He taught his crew how to mount and start a motorcycle before walking and bobbing their heads to the beat with one hand held outward and the other on their hip. Vata posted a video of the “New Thing” choreography to Instagram.

Since the episode aired, Vata has faced online plagiarism accusations for the “New Thing” sequence, which made its way to the original “Say My Name” choreographer, Anze Skrube.

Skrube, who is credited as the “Say My Name” choreographer on ATEEZ’s Treasure EP.2: Zero to One album, responded to the allegations on Instagram.

“I want to be very clear about the allegations of someone copying our moves,” he said in an Oct. 11 video. “Please stop harassing and fighting over it.” To clarify, there is a distinction between ‘biting’ a move, being inspired by a move, and biting a whole sequence of moves, which is what happened in this case. Josh Smith choreographed this sequence at the end of 2018, and it was released at the beginning of 2019. I’m only saying this because things like this happen all the time in the dance industry, and it’s not acceptable. Let’s not do that, people. If you get inspired by something, the least you could do is credit the creators. I’m just going to leave it at that.”

Vata added, “As a person who loves the culture of dance, I think it’s admirable when artists and choreographers respect one another. However, it seems like that isn’t the case [right now], which I find very unfortunate. Regardless of the reason, I apologise to the Street Man Fighter viewers and everyone who has been rooting for We Dem Boyz for causing a stir.”

ATEEZ has not yet formally responded to the debate, but they anticipate additional chart activity beyond their 2019 single. The World EP.1: Movement by the boy band has re-entered World Albums (at No. 8 this week), Top Current Album Sales (at No. 19), and Top Album Sales (No. 22)

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