Katseye Girl Group Members Report Receiving Death Threats and Online Harassment
Members of the global girl group Katseye have revealed they’ve been subjected to a barrage of sexist comments and death threats since their debut last year, highlighting the increasing toxicity faced by public figures online.
The group, comprised of Sophia Laforteza, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, and Jeung Yoonchae, was formed through a partnership between Hybe Corporation and Geffen Records. Lara Raj, an American citizen of Indian and Sri Lankan heritage, shared with the BBC that she deleted her X account after being falsely reported to immigration authorities. “I try to tell myself it doesn’t matter, but if 1,000 people are sending you death threats, it’s jarring,” Raj stated. She added that the online commentary felt “dystopian,” with people “seeing us as women to rank.”
Katseye was created in 2023 following an international talent search that attracted over 120,000 applicants, documented in the Netflix series The Debut: Dream Academy. The group has achieved significant success, including a Billboard Hot 100 entry with “Gnarly” and two Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. Despite this acclaim, members say the negativity has been pervasive. Sophia Laforteza noted, “Our career has been really short, but I feel like we’ve already had a lot of things said to us, to our families.” This situation echoes concerns about online safety and the pressures faced by young artists in the music industry, as explored by organizations like The National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Raj previously discussed the impact of social media during a docu-series following the group’s Asian tour, describing the experience as “bittersweet” and revealing she broke down after seeing death threats while performing in the Philippines. Authorities are increasingly aware of the dangers of online threats, as evidenced by the recent cancellation of shows by former Smiths frontman Morrissey due to a credible threat to his life. Officials have stated they are continuing to monitor online activity and will investigate any reported threats.
