12th November 2025 – (Los Angeles) Katseye have revealed they have faced a torrent of online abuse, including multiple death threats directed at the group and their families, since their debut last year. Speaking to the BBC, members described the volume and intensity of messages as psychologically draining, with US-born singer Lara Raj, of Tamil Indian heritage, also subjected to racist attacks and a false report to U.S. immigration authorities alleging unlawful residency and work.
The six-member act, formed in 2023 via The Debut: Dream Academy — a Hybe and Geffen Records reality project — said hostility has become a grim backdrop to their rapid rise. Raj, 20, said she deleted X (formerly Twitter) to avoid exposure to hostility, remarking that attempts to disregard online vitriol are undermined when confronted with thousands of threats. Bandmate Sophia Laforteza noted that while public scrutiny comes with fame, it does not negate their humanity. Another member, Manon Bannerman, characterised the sustained barrage as mentally terrorising.
The group did not detail the threats’ content, but pointed to a broader culture of aggressive fan behaviour that has also been condemned by other artists. Chappell Roan previously criticised non-consensual interactions involving her family and friends; Muna rebuked fans for spreading falsehoods for attention; and Doja Cat has called out unsettling conduct by sections of her following. Katseye added that a recurring strain of sexist commentary reduces them to ranked “scores” on looks, vocals and dance ability — a dynamic they described as dystopian.
The backlash contrasts sharply with a year of notable achievements. Their second EP, Beautiful Chaos, surged to number two on the US albums chart, powered by the abrasive, hook-laden single Gnarly and its Charli XCX-penned successor, Gabriella. A Gap campaign featuring the group became a viral phenomenon in August, generating hundreds of millions of views and billions of social impressions in days, outstripping the brand’s recent output. In September, they won best performance at the MTV Awards; and, five days ago, they became only the third girl group to secure a Grammy nomination for best new artist, following SWV and Wilson Phillips.
International in make-up and aged between 17 and 22, the line-up comprises Atlanta-raised Venezuelan‑Cuban American Daniela Avanzini; New York‑based Indian‑Sri Lankan American Lara Raj; Zurich’s Ghanaian‑Italian Manon Bannerman; Honolulu’s Chinese‑Singaporean American Megan Skiendiel; Manila-born Sophia Laforteza; and South Korean member Yoonchae Jeung. They trained in the K‑pop system but pursue a sonically Western pop direction. Their debut EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), laid a polished foundation, while April’s Gnarly — a two‑minute blast of jarring drops, pummelling synths and chant‑style vocals — split opinion yet amassed over half a billion streams and drew praise from the New York Times as a glimpse of K‑pop’s future.
The band’s work ethic was forged during a two‑year bootcamp of daily dance drills, vocal sessions and rigorous critique, where precision — “one person walking down the stairs” rather than “a group falling down” — was the standard. That discipline now translates into rapid execution: they learned the aerobic choreography for the Gap advert in a single day, tightening synchronisation with minimal rehearsal and fine‑tuning thereafter.
Support from pop luminaries has followed. Melanie C, hosting a London showcase last month, drew parallels with the Spice Girls’ wide appeal, highlighting Katseye’s diversity as a catalyst for connection. The group say representation is central to their mission: to embolden young women to embrace their heritage and appearance. Despite the vitriol, Raj urged aspiring artists from under‑represented backgrounds to persist, insisting that culture and identity should be wielded as strengths rather than perceived barriers.