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Gojira and Julien Doré Embroiled in “Flying Whale” Scenography Dispute
PARIS – A disagreement over the use of large-scale, flying whale props has erupted between French musicians gojira and Julien Doré, playing out publicly on Instagram. The conflict centers on claims of idea replication and has ignited a debate among fans of both artists.
The controversy began after Gojira deployed the flying whale scenography during their November 30th concert at the Accor Arena in Paris, specifically during their song “Flying Whales.” Fans quickly pointed out the striking similarity to a signature visual element used by Julien Doré, who debuted the whales during his 2007 New Star appearance and is currently incorporating them into his ongoing tour of the United States and Canada. Doré initially responded with a wry comment on Instagram: “Take my ideas, I will have others.”
Gojira drummer Mario Duplantier countered, explaining to Julien Ménielle that the band had rented the whales from a specialized manufacturer in 2023, noting that Doré had actually rented the same props a week prior to Gojira’s concert. Though, Doré later posted a video on Instagram claiming the original footage of the whales dates back to 2022, further complicating the timeline and fueling the dispute. the incident highlights the increasing scrutiny of originality and intellectual property within the live music industry, especially regarding increasingly elaborate stage productions.
