PALACE FANS DISCOVER K-NEIN GRAPHIC WAS MADE BY AI ARTIST

## The Smoking Gun Palace Skateboards just learned the hard way that the internet never forgets. The London skateboard giant found itself in hot water after fans discovered their new K-NEIN graphic was allegedly created by AI artist Stephan Vasement in 2025. Reddit users connected the dots faster than a Supreme drop sellout. The artwork in question matched Vasement's distinctive AI-generated style, leaving Palace scrambling to delete the original tweet once the allegations surfaced. Stephan Vasement is a second-wave AI artist known for his boundary-pushing work who emerged with tools like Stable Diffusion and Midjourney. The Bangkok-based artist previously worked in commercial animation before diving into AI art. ## Palace's AI Problem This isn't just about borrowed graphics. It's about authenticity in a culture built on it. Palace founder Lev Tanju originally wanted to create a brand authentic to skateboarding culture, feeling many brands weren't engaging with things the way skaters were. The irony cuts deep. Tanju began designing board graphics himself and started the company around creating authentic skate culture. Now his brand faces accusations of lifting AI-generated work without credit. Vasement has spoken about how easy it is to create AI art, but notes that standing out requires inner content, with AI remaining just a tool. His work has been featured in galleries from New York to Barcelona, making this alleged appropriation even more problematic. ## The Culture War Continues This controversy drops right as Palace debuts its Spring 2026 collection, featuring everything from GORE-TEX outerwear to "K9" influenced pieces extending from balaclavas to literal dog jackets. The timing couldn't be worse. Palace has evolved from selling t-shirts in London stores to one of the biggest streetwear brands globally, known for clapping back at negative comments and using product descriptions to insult customers. But this time, the backlash might stick. The deleted tweet speaks volumes. In streetwear, getting caught is worse than the original crime. Palace built its reputation on irreverence and authenticity. Using uncredited AI art threatens both.