LOS ANGELES — Grammy-nominated global girl group KATSEYE, who shot to fame last year througha the Netflix series “Pop Star Academy,” have revealed that they are facing thousands of online death threats, according to a recent interview with the BBC.
The six-member group — made up of artists from the United States, Switzerland, the Philippines, and South Korea — said the onslaught of hate and threats over social media has become a disturbing part of their daily lives.
“If a thousand people are sending you death threats, even if it’s not going to happen, it’s heavy and jarring,” said Lara Raj, the group’s 20-year-old second-generation Indian-American member. Her bandmates nodded in agreement, confirming that all six of them regularly receive such threats.
KATSEYE, now a rising K-pop force, was formed through an intense 12-week audition process documented on the 2024 Netflix show “The Debut: Dream Academy,” a collaboration between South Korean entertainment giant HYBE and U.S.-based Geffen Records. Modeled after South Korea’s rigorous idol training system, the show followed 20 young hopefuls competing for a place in the group.
Member Sophia Laforteza, 22, originally from Manila, said the experience was “very rigorous, very demanding,” adding that it prepared them for the pressures of fame. The band recently celebrated Grammy nominations in two major categories: Best New Artist and Best Group Performance.
Despite their success, the members expressed concern over the darker side of digital attention. Raj and fellow member Manon Bannerman described the psychological effects of constant online scrutiny, with Bannerman calling it “terrorizing on the mind.”
The group highlighted disturbing trends in fan behavior, including online ranking systems that score them based on looks, performance, and personality — something Raj described as “so dystopian.”
Still, KATSEYE remains focused on their music and message. “We’ve all come from different places with different cultures and upbringings, yet we’re able to come together and create magic through music,” Laforteza said.
As they prepare for the next stage in their career, KATSEYE is calling attention to the mental health impacts of digital hate while continuing to connect with their global fanbase.
