A Church of England school in Dorset has prohibited students from singing songs from Netflix hit KPop Demon Hunters following concerns about references to demons and their impact on the school’s religious values.
Lilliput Church of England Infant School, which teaches children aged four to seven, sent a notice to parents explaining that some members of the school community are “deeply uncomfortable” with certain lyrics. According to BBC News, the school asked families to encourage children “not to sing these songs at school out of respect for those who find the themes at odds with their faith.”
Staff noted that demons are associated with “spiritual forces opposed to God and goodness,” stressing the need to uphold the school’s Christian ethos.
In a follow-up letter published on the school website Monday, acting head teacher Lloyd Allington expanded on the reasoning. “For some Christians… even fictional or playful use of this language can conflict with their faith, which emphasises rejecting evil rather than engaging with it — even in entertainment,” he wrote.
Allington acknowledged that not all feedback has been negative, noting that several parents expressed support for the film’s message. Some families believe the songs promote values such as teamwork and kindness.
“We want to reassure you that we are not asking parents to tell their children that there is anything wrong with enjoying the film or its songs if it aligns with your own views and beliefs,” the letter continued. “Our role will simply be to help children understand that some of their peers may hold different views and to explore how we can respect and support those peers in upholding their faith.”
Released in June, KPop Demon Hunters follows a K-pop girl group who moonlight as demon hunters. The animated film became Netflix’s most-watched original title, with a sequel already in development. Its soundtrack made history as the first movie album with four songs in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10, and it scored five Grammy nominations.
The Hollywood Reporter described the title as a “dazzlingly animated, infectiously soundtracked treat.”
Source: THR