KPOP DEMON HUNTERS Sparks a New Mini Satanic Panic as UK School Bans Its Songs
If you thought KPop Demon Hunters was just a stylish animated hit with catchy music and supernatural flair, think again. The Netflix phenomenon has unexpectedly revived a wave of controversy in England where a religious school has barred its students from singing the movie’s original songs.
A Church of England school in Poole, Dorset recently sent out a notice to parents explaining that students would not be allowed to sing songs from KPop Demon Hunters on campus. The concern centered around certain lyrics that the school felt weren’t compatible with its values.
According to the BBC, “Lilliput Church of England Infant School in Poole, Dorset sent a message to parents on Friday saying some members of the community are ‘deeply uncomfortable’ with references to demons.
“It said this was because they ‘associate them with spiritual forces opposed to God and goodness.’ In an update on Monday, acting head teacher Lloyd Allington said he had since received feedback from parents, highlighting positive messages from the songs, but said the school was seeking to support those who found the themes ‘challenging.’”
Honestly I thought we left this kind of satanic panic thinking back in the early nineties but here we are again!
The school initially asked students “not to sing these songs at school out of respect for those who find the themes at odds with their faith,” which understandably didn’t sit well with everyone. One parent told the BBC, “I thought it was ridiculous. My daughter is very into K-pop and her and all of her little friends love it.”
Other parents pushed back as well noting that songs like “Golden” had actually helped their kids build confidence and teamwork.
In response, acting head teacher Lloyd Allington offered more context. “While we fully respect your right to make choices about the content your child engages with at home, we also want to be mindful of the diversity of beliefs within our school community.
“For some Christians, references to demons can feel deeply uncomfortable because they associate them with spiritual forces opposed to God and goodness. 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.
“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.”
Since premiering in June, KPop Demon Hunters has become Netflix’s most watched movie ever with more than 325 million views. Its soundtrack exploded too with “Golden,” “Your Idol” and “Soda Pop” spending weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. “Golden” even climbed to number one and earned a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year.
Netflix and Sony recently locked in a deal for a sequel set for release in 2029. Co-director Maggie Kang, who made the film with Chris Appelhans, has been vocal about wanting to continue the story.
In an interview with Variety, Kang said, “We’ve set up so much for potential backstory. Obviously, there’s a lot of questions that are left unanswered and areas that are not explored. We had to do that because there’s only so much movie you could tell in 85 minutes.”
So in the end we’ve got a global smash hit, a soundtrack kids can’t stop singing and a school trying to juggle artistic enthusiasm with religious sensitivity. Whether the ban sticks or fades away the ripple effect proves just how deeply KPop Demon Hunters has sunk into pop culture. It’s catchy, stylish and apparently controversial enough to spark a fresh round of moral worry.