Palestinian Australian artist Sarah Bahbah claims Selena Gomez ripped off her work — again.
Bahbah shared an Instagram post Friday breaking down the similarities between her viral content and Gomez’s “Love On” music video, which dropped last week.
“What I’m about to share happens so often to women of color in this industry,” Bahbah, 32, said.
“On Friday morning, I woke up to a text from friends being like, ‘Um, have you seen Selena Gomez’s music video “Love On”? She’s ripping you off again.'”
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The artist referenced a slew of news articles — including Pvnew’s coverage — about a 2018 incident in which she said Gomez, now 31, “may or may not have drawn inspiration from [her] very distinct artist signature aesthetic” in the singer’s “Back to You” music video.
Bahbah went on to explain Friday that Gomez’s latest video not only resembles her style but was even shot in the same location as two of her short films.
She also likened some of the shots in “Love On” — including images of the former Disney Channel star dancing on a table, lying on a couch and sipping coffee in a robe — to those featured in a music video she directed for DJ Kygo.
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“Oftentimes white women or men will get hired as directors when I’m front and center of their mood board,” she claimed.
“And I know that through facts, not speculation, because eventually information has a way of coming out.”
Bahbah continued, “I used to believe imitation is the highest form of flattery. … When does one artist inspiring another cross the line into possible using someone else’s work without permission? Where is the line between inspiration and a motherf–king IP lawsuit?”
The photographer noted that she had to turn off her comments section because Gomez’s fans were writing “hateful things that have nothing to do with the video.”
In a Reddit thread about the controversy, fans were divided over Bahbah’s claims.
“I can’t see many glaring similarities outside of the location, but I also don’t think either version strikes me as that unique from things I’ve seen in movies,” one person wrote.
Another echoed the sentiment, adding, “Even though she’s saying these are shot in the same room or location as her shots, they don’t look at all like the same places to me. They are all from different angles of the room or totally different light so to me it isn’t obvious at all that they are in the same places.”
A third Redditor chimed in, “A lot of the examples were certainly not unique visuals for either party, so I didn’t really understand the calls of plagiarism. If Sarah has more examples or proof I’m opening to hearing them, but at the moment it just seems like a huge reach.”
Gomez has not responded to the allegation. Pvnew reached out to her reps for comment.
