Australian singer and songwriter Lenka is currently facing backlash from netizens following a copyright dispute involving her and Shaira Moro, known as the Queen of Bangsamoro Pop.
The controversy arose after Shaira’s song was removed from streaming platforms due to its alleged resemblance to Lenka’s track ‘Trouble Is A Friend.’ This incident prompted a wave of negative comments directed at Lenka on her Instagram posts.
Some netizens suggested that Lenka should express gratitude to Shaira, noting that her song gained renewed attention as a result of the dispute. They emphasized that Shaira did not claim ownership of Lenka’s song and implied that Lenka should appreciate the exposure her music received.
One netizen remarked, “Hi, you should be thankful to Shaira because your song is trending now. To be honest, I didn’t even know that you are a singer.”
The comment sparked a debate among netizens, with some highlighting the importance of intellectual property rights and others comparing the situation to theft.
Meanwhile, Shaira issued a statement urging her supporters to refrain from criticizing Lenka.
“Nais ko lamang po makiusap sa lahat ng tumatangkilik at sumusuporta sa akin na nakapag kumento o nakapagsalita ng di maganda at di naaangkop laban kay Idol Lenka na kung maaari lamang ay tigilan na po natin ang pagtuligsa o pambabash sa kanya,” Shaira said.
Ayan ha, si Queen Shaira na mismo nagsabi. Wag na natin awayin si Lenka. We stan a mabait na kween! pic.twitter.com/dji7rubjBE
— Mayhem Milker (@MxNoelle) March 22, 2024
She also revealed that Lenka’s team approached them in a respectful manner, and she called for an end to the spread of hate speech against them.