Look familiar? Fans accuse Beyoncé of copying M.I.A.'s upcoming music video for her flowery maternity shoot - just months after the Sri Lankan rapper said Queen Bey stole her sound, too

  • On Wednesday, Beyoncé shared photos of herself cradling her belly while wearing a veil and posing in front of oversized blooms
  • On Thursday, M.I.A. uploaded stills and clips from her upcoming Powa music video, which also features colorful flowers and a veil
  • Fans began commenting that it looked like Bey copied
  • However, the flower-stuffed car in her shoot was created by her photographer, Awol Erizku, who created it ten months ago

By Carly Stern For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:56 EST, 2 February 2017 | Updated: 19:13 EST, 2 February 2017

Mere hours after Beyoncé announced on Wednesday that she and Jay-Z are expecting twins, the multiples-mom-to-be's pregnancy shoot photo became — by far — the most-liked photo ever posted on Instagram.

But though the picture has 8.5 million likes and counting, not everyone is a fan. Some, in fact, are accusing Queen Bey of stealing from M.I.A.

The Sri Lankan rapper has been teasing images and video from her upcoming Powa music video, and one frame in particular bears a striking resemblance to Beyoncé's shoot.

Similar... People are accusing Beyoncé of stealing her maternity shoot artwork from this MIA music video

Which came first? Beyoncé shared the maternity shoot photos yesterday, while MIA began teasing clips from her video today

In the Powa video, M.I.A. is seen laying in a truck bed that's been covered in big, bright blooms while a long, sheer pink veil obscures her face. The full video hasn't been released yet, but she has been sharing images and clips online.

Beyoncé's first pregnancy photo shows the singer crouched in front of similar flowers, with a sheer green veil over her face. The similarities are quite striking.

'@MIAuniverse queen of giving inspiration to beyonce!!' wrote one fan, posting a side-by-side comparison.

'Wow its crazy how Bey just can't be original smh,' wrote another, while a third said: 'We know where Beyoncé got her inspiration for the twins pic. Lmao! Keep teaching them MIA.' 

Looks like war: M.I.A. has not chimed in, but her fans certainly have

Wait a minute... However, this car that Beyoncé was shot on was part of an art installation her photographer complete ten months ago

Hmmm... It's unknown who actually had the idea first, though it's not just the flowers that are similar — the veils are, too

FANS ACCUSE BEYONCÉ 

Bey's shoot was shot and styled by Awol Erizku. Though the creative director behind MIA's video has yet to be identified, neither she nor Awol have have said he has any connection to it. 

This isn't the first time that Beyoncé's been accused of 'stealing' from MIA, either. IN November, the rapper told Q magazine: 'I'm fine with Madonna or Beyoncé or Rihanna being inspired by my work, but I would like them to then go, "Yeah, this immigrant who came out of nowhere influenced us, so maybe not all of them are f***ing terrible."' 

She went on: 'They don't even think like that. They go "Yeah, maybe me stealing the stuff says she's all right. She should be thankful we're stealing it." But sometimes you just think, "f***, I have to pay some bills," you know?  

Feud? M.I.A. has said that Beyoncé copied her sound in the past

Artistry: Beyoncé's photographer was an artist named Awol Erizku

Neither star has commented on the alleged copying

However, the 'who stole from whom' debate isn't quite so black and white in the case of these photos. While Beyoncé shared her pregnancy pictures on Wednesday night, M.I.A. didn't start posting her Powa pictures and clips until Thursday morning.

It's unclear who actually created the shots first, though some M.I.A.fans are still convinced that Bey knew what she was doing.

It is possible, though, that M.I.A. was the one who was 'inspired' this time.. Bey's photographer Awol shared an image of the flower-stuffed car Beyoncé would later be shot with on his website ten months ago.

M.I.A. may have seen the piece, a collaboration with Sarah Lineberger called 'Ask the dust'. The veils could simply be a coincidence.

Comments 93

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.