A Church of England infant school in Dorset has asked its pupils to refrain from singing songs from the popular Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters, citing concerns that references to demons could make Christian members of their community feel uncomfortable.
The School's Stance on Spiritual Content
Lloyd Allington, acting head of Lilliput Church of England Infant School in Poole, wrote to parents explaining the decision. He emphasised that while the school respects parental choices about home entertainment, they must be mindful of their diverse school community's beliefs.
"For some Christians, references to demons can feel deeply uncomfortable because they associate them with spiritual forces opposed to God and goodness," Mr Allington stated in his letter. He further explained that even fictional or playful use of such language could conflict with faith principles that emphasise rejecting evil rather than engaging with it.
Parental Reactions and School's Clarification
The request has sparked mixed reactions from parents. One parent described the situation as "ridiculous," telling the BBC: "My daughter is very into K-pop and her and all of her little friends love it. It's just a harmless, nice little thing for them to do to get their confidence up." The father, who identified as an atheist, added that the ban felt like "a bit of an imposition and probably a bit unfair and silly."
Following feedback from parents, Mr Allington issued an updated letter acknowledging their perspectives. "Thank you to those parents who have shared your thoughts around the positive themes you see in K-Pop Demon Hunters and its music," he wrote.
Balancing Entertainment and Faith in Education
The school recognises that the film promotes positive values like teamwork, courage, and kindness. Mr Allington noted that many parents felt songs like "Golden" had helped their children learn about these important themes.
However, he clarified the school's position: "We are not asking parents to tell their children that there is anything wrong with enjoying the film or its songs if it aligns with your own views and beliefs." Instead, the school aims to help children understand that some peers may hold different views and explore how to respect and support those upholding their faith.
The controversy emerges against the backdrop of the film's remarkable success. Netflix announced in August that the animated musical had become its most viewed movie ever, accumulating an impressive 236 million streams since its June release.
The film's content includes a rival group called the Saja Boys, composed of five demons, whose song lyrics cover themes including temptation and seduction, which the school believes conflicts with its Christian foundation chosen by many parents specifically for its faith-based environment.
