CHILLGUY token plunges 20% amid mascot originality controversy. Creator Philip Banks addresses claims of plagiarism from Vietnamese children's magazine.
Chill Guy (CHILLGUY) is experiencing a major decline in its price, dropping by more than 20% in the last 24 hours. The value of the meme coin fell from $0.21966 and is currently trading at $0.17240. The decline can be attributed to accusations circulating on social media that the token’s mascot may not be original.
The token has attracted considerable interest since its release, with its mascot becoming a favorite among many. However, recent questions about its originality have led some users to sell their holdings. A Reddit user shared an image of a character called RELAXBOY from a Thai booklet, which closely resembles Chill Guy’s mascot. This has sparked debates about potential plagiarism, with some users claiming the mascot may have been copied.
One user commented on the post, suggesting that the image was part of a promotion for a rug pull scam, noting that many comments had been deleted. The commentator cautioned against believing everything online, as scammers often fabricate stories for financial gain. They further clarified that “Just a Chill Guy” was created by Philip Banks and that the image in question was a Photoshopped version based on the original character from a Vietnamese children’s newspaper.
Philip Banks, who claims to be the original creator of the “Just a Chill Guy” meme, addressed the situation on his X account. He explained that a Vietnamese children’s magazine had repurposed “CHILLGUY,” but some individuals are now accusing him of stealing it. Banks stated that while he does not condone the magazine’s actions, he is not angry about it. He also urged people not to harass others or use the situation to justify racism, emphasizing that the magazine likely had no malicious intent. Banks posted the following statement:
“oh yeah sorry, i don’t really use twitter much anymore but to keep you in the loop; vietnamese childrens magazine/newspaper repurposed cgwlkdgaf, now a bunch of smooth brain troglodytes are saying i stole it… btw I’m not mad at Học Trò Cười for repurposing chill guy (I mean, I’m not condoning it but it’s happened so much I’m not upset about it), I don’t want anyone harassing people or using it as an excuse for racism. I’m sure they never intended for this to happen lol”
Previously, Banks stated that he does not condone or endorse the use of his art for any crypto-related projects. To deter such usage, he has issued legal warnings.
Meanwhile, some users speculate that the booklet reference might have been generated using AI to stir controversy and draw attention to the token. However, if that is the case, it does not appear to be helping, as the token’s price continues to decline. The trading volume has also dropped by more than 20% in the last 24 hours.
Temitope is a writer with more than four years of experience writing across various niches. He has a special interest in the fintech and blockchain spaces and enjoy writing articles in those areas. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in linguistics. When not writing, he trades forex and plays video games.
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