Ariana Grande released the video for single “One Last Time” over the weekend and while Arianators were freaking out over a surprise cameo from a former co-star, Australian rockers Safia were worked up for a different reason.
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The band took to Facebook to point out the similarities between the pop star’s new video and their six-month old clip for the song “You Are The One.”
Both “One Last Time” and “You Are The One” are single-take, apocalypse-themed videos that start with a young woman exiting a car in a traffic jam...
Running through the chaos...
Passing emergency workers...
Embracing a lover as rocket-like comets fall from the sky...
And sticking it out as the world ends in a romantic, pink-hued fireball.
Director Max Landis then took to Twitter to defend the "One Last Time" video by accusing Safi stealing the concept for their "You Are The One" video from Australian rock group Injured Ninja.
No but seriously for people who are saying we stole @SAFIAmusic 's video, they should watch @Injured_Ninja's video https://t.co/GPxnowixYJ
Slow mo, traffic, purple sky, couple dies together...It's literally the same. I'd never seen either video before today.
Both videos are sick, and one is pretty clearly...inspired...by the other one. They're nearly identical, actually.
I talked to Safia and they were very cool about it, but guys, I gotta be serious with you for a minute, as a creative person
And just give you some advice, as a friend. I'm being a friend to you right now.
Protip: don't accuse someone of stealing for having similar tropes if you REALLY ACTUALLY STOLE YOUR VIDEO YOU'RE ACCUSING THEM OF STEALING.
EVERYBODY GOT THAT? Let's do this one...last...time. https://t.co/GPxnowixYJ https://t.co/PkaAkaDGQi both australian, 2011.
I hope you fucking love the #OLT video as much as I do. But I don't love enough to steal. Anything. *Ever.*
coincidences are coincidences tropes are tropes But those in glass houses shouldn't throw meteors.
While the Injured Ninja video is yet another traffic jam-centric apocalypse video, the final shot isn't quite the romantic embrace at the end of "You Are The One" and "One Last Time."
