A Church of England infant school in Dorset has asked pupils to avoid singing songs from the Netflix hit KPop Demon Hunters, after concerns were raised that the film’s references to demons conflict with Christian beliefs held by some families.
Lilliput Church of England Infant School in Poole contacted parents to explain that elements of the soundtrack had caused unease within its community.
In their initial message, the school noted that some parents are “deeply uncomfortable” with the film’s depiction of demons because they “associate them with spiritual forces opposed to God and goodness".
The Netflix animation has been a huge hit, becoming Netflix’s most-watched film ever, with reportedly over 236 million views.
It is about a fictional K-pop group battling supernatural enemies that heavily draws on Korean mythology.
The soundtrack has also been incredibly successful, with multiple original songs charting very high.
While many pupils have been enjoying the songs, the school asked families to help ensure children “not to sing these songs at school out of respect for those who find the themes at odds with their faith".
One parent, who described himself as an atheist, felt the request was over the top.
He told the BBC: “I thought it was ridiculous, it’s just harmless, a nice little thing for them to do to get their confidence up.”
He added that he believed the school had been placed under pressure, though he praised it overall.
Following mixed responses from parents, acting head teacher Lloyd Allington wrote again on Monday, acknowledging that some families felt the songs carried positive lessons.
Some parents had told him the music had encouraged their children in values such as teamwork and bravery,
Mr Allington repeated their point that tracks like the UK hit Golden supports messages of “teamwork, courage, and kindness".
In his update, he reiterated the school’s aim of balancing differing beliefs within the community:
“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.”