‘KPop Demon Hunters’ faces backlash over ‘Napalm Era’ lyric amid praise for Netflix debut

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ faces criticism from Vietnamese viewers over a lyric referencing napalm in its opening song.

Since its release on Netflix on June 20, 2025, the animated musical fantasy film KPop Demon Hunters has received widespread praise for its engaging story and execution. However, the film has recently faced criticism over a lyric in its opening song, How It’s Done, performed by Ejae, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna and written by Ejae, Danny Chung, and Mark Sonnenblick.
 

The song plays during a scene where protagonists Rumi, Zoey, and Mira fight demons on their way to perform for a stadium of fans. 

While the track promotes themes of confidence and empowerment, it includes the lyric “Fit check for my napalm era,” which has been criticised by Vietnamese viewers who have highlighted its insensitivity due to the historical context of the Vietnam War.

Many Vietnamese viewers have taken to social media to express concerns, noting that the reference to “napalm era” recalls the extensive use of napalm by the United States during the Vietnam War, leading to severe civilian casualties and long-term health impacts. 

Between 1963 and 1973, American forces dropped hundreds of thousands of tonnes of napalm in Vietnam, causing devastation across many regions.

Napalm, a highly flammable substance that clings to the skin and burns at extremely high temperatures, became a symbol of the destruction associated with the war. 

Viewers are calling for greater awareness of the term’s implications, particularly given the film’s popularity in Vietnam.

Despite the controversy, KPop Demon Hunters continues to perform strongly on Netflix, but the discussion around the lyric reflects ongoing conversations about historical sensitivity in global media.