HYBE’s K-pop girl group KATSEYE, a U.S.-Korea collaborative global project, revealed in a BBC interview on November 11 that they have received multiple online death threats since their debut last year. Members also disclosed that these threats have extended to their families, leaving them emotionally burdened.
Member Lara, of Tamil-Indian American descent, said: “I try to tell myself it’s nothing, but when 1,000 people send death threats, it’s shocking. Even if nothing happens, it’s overwhelming.”
Lara also spoke about racial and sexist harassment directed at the group. False reports were filed with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), claiming she was living and working illegally in the U.S. She added: “People rate us as women, assigning scores to our appearance, singing, and dancing it feels dystopian.”
To protect her mental health, Lara deleted her X (formerly Twitter) account, emphasizing the importance of not letting public opinions control her life.
While the group did not disclose specific threats, BBC noted that aggressive behavior from some fan communities is not uncommon.
Leader Sophia said: “We chose to appear in public and understand that certain things come with fame, but that doesn’t change the fact that we are human.”
Member Manon added: “It feels like we are being mentally terrorized.”
KATSEYE is a six-member group formed by HYBE in partnership with Geffen Records (Universal Music, USA), incorporating K-pop training methods into the U.S. music market. The team includes Manon (Switzerland), Sophia (Philippines), Daniela, Lara, Megan (USA), and Yoonchae (Korea), highlighting their diverse nationalities and backgrounds.
The group has quickly gained international attention for their cross-cultural concept and global appeal, but their statement underscores the serious impact of online harassment on K-pop idols.
Sources: BBC,Hankyung
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