The internationally acclaimed girl group Katseye, fresh off a historic Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, has revealed the severe online abuse they and their families have faced since their debut last year. Singer Lara Raj, a US citizen of Tamil Indian heritage, shared the distress caused by the volume of threats, stating that receiving “1,000 people sending you death threats, it’s jarring,” and describing the experience as “really heavy.” Raj, who also endured racist comments and was falsely reported to ICE, has quit platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to shield herself, concluding, “I am not the audience for other people’s opinions.” The group’s experience echoes similar concerns raised by other artists like Chappell Roan and Doja Cat regarding inappropriate and harassing fan behavior.
The group acknowledged that public life comes with scrutiny, but bandmate Sophia Laforteza emphasized their humanity: “We know it’s a part of fame. But it doesn’t change the fact that we are human.” The singers also highlighted the overtly sexist nature of much of the criticism. Raj noted the “dystopian” tendency to “rank” and “grade” the members based on singing, dancing, and appearance, reducing them to percentage scores. Manon Bannerman added that this behavior is “very terrorising on the mind.” This intense scrutiny is magnified by the group’s high-profile backing, having been formed by Hybe (BTS, Le Sserafim) and Geffen Records (Olivia Rodrigo) through the reality show The Debut: Dream Academy.
Despite the negativity, Katseye is experiencing a stellar year. Their latest EP, Beautiful Chaos, reached number two on the US charts, propelled by the polarizing but viral lead single, “Gnarly,” which has amassed over half a billion streams. Their commercial impact is undeniable, highlighted by a Gap advert that racked up 400 million views and 8 billion social media impressions. Last month, they clinched Best Performance at the MTV Awards and became only the third girl group in history to secure a Best New Artist Grammy nomination, following SWV and Wilson Phillips.
The six members, ranging from 17 to 22, are celebrated for their striking global diversity, with members originating from countries including the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland (Ghanaian-Italian heritage), and the US (Venezuelan-Cuban, Indian-Sri Lankan, and Chinese-Singaporean heritage). They see this diversity as their core strength. As Bannerman stated, it is their “number one priority to show the girlies out there to be proud of where they come from.” Raj added a message of defiance to aspiring diverse artists: “Our skin colour, our culture is our power. Use it and own it.”
Katseye Stars Speak Out on Death Threats and Dystopian Online Scrutiny
