Red Velvet has been swept up in a brewing controversy over alleged AI use in comeback promo content released ahead of their return.
On July 7, SM Entertainment unveiled the schedule poster for Red Velvet’s new mini album ‘Velvet Summer’ through the group’s official social media accounts.
The blue tile–themed poster stands out with summer-inspired objects and intricate patterns.
However, fans immediately questioned the design, asking, “Was this made with AI?” and claiming, “There’s a Gemini (AI) logo in the image.” Indeed, if you look at the mermaid tile in the center of the second row, you can spot a diamond-shaped mark in the shell placed at the bottom right.
Reactions online have been split. Supporters said, “Who doesn’t use AI these days?” and “If they’d erased the logo, people would’ve accused them of trying to hide it.” On the other hand, critics argued, “It looks cheap,” and “This is for commercial use—leaving a logo watermark feels off.”
Meanwhile, Red Velvet’s summer mini album ‘Velvet Summer’ is slated for release on major music platforms on August 3.
Schedule Poster
Red Velvet Summer Mini Album
【Velvet Summer】
➫ 2026.08.03 6PM (KST)
💿Pre-orderhttps://t.co/jKL6BzzsJa#RedVelvet#레드벨벳#VelvetSummer#RedVelvet_VelvetSummerpic.twitter.com/41sc48I8Bw— Red Velvet (@RVsmtown) July 6, 2026