Global girl group Katseye has been hit with death threats and sexist comments since debuting last year. The six-member group told BBC News that thousands of threatening messages have been sent to them and their families.
“I try to tell myself it doesn’t matter, but if 1,000 people are sending you death threats, it’s jarring,” member Lara Raj said. “Even if it’s not going to happen, it’s heavy.”
Raj is an American citizen with Tamil Indian heritage. She deleted her X account after being falsely reported to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. People accused her of working and living in the United States without legal authorization. She’s a US citizen.
“I realised I am not the audience for other people’s opinions,” she said.
Raj called the comments incredibly sexist and “dystopian”. People rank the members based on looks, singing ability, and dancing ability. They then calculate a percentage score for each member.
Member Sophia Laforteza talked about the toll of public scrutiny. “Our career has been really short, but I feel like we’ve already had a lot of things said to us, to our families,” she said. “We know that we signed up for being so public. We know it’s a part of fame. But it doesn’t change the fact that we are human.”
Raj broke down the day they performed in the Philippines during their Asia tour in September 2024. She saw death threats online that day. She described social media’s severe impact on her mental health.
How the Group Came Together
Katseye was formed through a partnership between South Korea’s Hybe Corporation and US label Geffen Records. Hybe is the company behind BTS and NewJeans. The group was conceived in 2023 with the goal of creating “the first truly global girl group”.
An international talent search in 2022 drew over 120,000 applicants worldwide. Netflix documented the process in the reality competition series The Debut: Dream Academy. Contestants were trained and evaluated through a blend of K-pop and Western pop performance systems.
Six members were selected from different backgrounds. Lara Raj lived in New York. Sophia Laforteza is Filipino. Manon Bannerman is Swiss-Ghanaian and lived in Zurich. Daniela Avanzini is a Venezuelan-Cuban American from Atlanta. She’s a ballroom dancer who appeared on America’s Got Talent and was a top 10 finalist on So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation. Megan Skiendziel is a Chinese-Singaporean American dancer and vocalist from Honolulu. Jeung Yoonchae from South Korea had spent five years training to be a K-pop idol.
The group trained in Los Angeles under a system modelled on K-pop’s rigorous choreography and vocal standards. They officially debuted in June 2024 with the single “Debut”. Their first EP SIS (Soft Is Strong) came out two months later.
Netflix chronicled the group’s formation and journey in the docuseries Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE. It premiered in August 2024.
Chart Performance and Recognition
Katseye’s English-language single “Touch” went viral on TikTok. It earned them chart placements in both Asia and the US. “Gnarly” became their first Billboard Hot 100 entry.
Katseye has been nominated for two Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist. They have appeared at major festivals and in global brand campaigns. This includes a viral advertisement for clothing brand Gap.
Member Manon Bannerman spoke about the group’s commitment to diversity. “We exist for girls who are proud of their backgrounds,” she said. “We want them to feel proud, regardless of their appearance or background.”
