Memphis Depay has moved to calm the backlash over his Corinthians HQ blaze music video, saying it is “just art” and that he is “fully against any type of violence of all kind”. The clip shows Corinthian headquarters, Parque São Jorge, in flames. It was released 24 hours after Corinthians reached the quarter-final of the Copa Libertadores.
The video and Depay's defence
Depay said the video was filmed months ago. Speaking to BBC, he said: “I hope its a peaceful protest where people can express what they think calmly. About my music, I insist it's just art,” before adding that he is “fully against any type of violence of all kind”.
The wording matters because the imagery is incendiary, but his own explanation keeps it in the lane of protest and performance. That is the line he is trying to hold, even with the flames in the video and the timing of the release.
The contract row around Corinthians
The backlash sits next to a separate dispute with Corinthian. On 11 August, Depay accused the club of “unacceptable behaviour” after they withdrew a previously agreed extension on a two-year deal signed in 2024.
BBC also reported that on 18 August, Corinthians president Osmar Stabile said Depay had reduced his financial demands significantly. The new contract is set to run until 2028.
The club side of this is still active, so the video has landed in a tense spell rather than a settled one. Depay may be trying to separate the art from the row, but the two are now travelling together.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
