Ask Onix
Katseye Faces Wave of Online Death Threats After Breakout Year
Members of the rising global girl group Katseye have revealed they have been targeted by a barrage of online death threats since their debut last year, with abusive messages also directed at their families. The six-member ensemble, recently nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, described the experience as "jarring" despite their rapid ascent in the music industry.
"I try to tell myself it doesn't matter, but if 1,000 people are sending you death threats, it's overwhelming," said Lara Raj, the group's 20-year-old vocalist of Tamil Indian heritage. "Even if the threats aren't credible, the sheer volume weighs on you." Raj, a U.S. citizen, has also faced racist harassment and was falsely reported to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly "working and residing in the United States without legal authorization."
To shield herself from the toxicity, Raj deleted her Twitter (now X) account. "I realized I don't need to subject myself to strangers' opinions," she told the BBC in a recent interview. The group did not disclose specifics about the threats but acknowledged the prevalence of aggressive behavior within fan communities-a pattern echoed by other artists.
Industry-Wide Struggle with Fan Toxicity
Katseye's experience mirrors broader challenges faced by musicians in the digital age. Last year, singer Chappell Roan condemned "nonconsensual physical and social interactions" from fans, including harassment of her family and friends. Pop band Muna publicly criticized supporters for "spreading falsehoods about us and our loved ones for clout," while Doja Cat has called out "creepy" behavior from segments of her fanbase.
"Our career is still so new, but we've already heard so much-about us, about our families," said Sophia Laforteza, another Katseye member. "We knew fame came with scrutiny, but it doesn't change the fact that we're human."
Raj highlighted the sexist undertones of the abuse, describing how fans often "rank" the group members based on appearance, vocal ability, and dance skills, assigning them arbitrary percentages. "It's dystopian," she said. Manon Bannerman, her bandmate, added, "It's terrifying what that does to your mind."
From Reality Show Roots to Grammy Recognition
Despite the online vitriol, Katseye's trajectory has been meteoric. Their second EP, Beautiful Chaos, debuted at No. 2 on the U.S. album charts, propelled by the polarizing yet viral hit Gnarly-a track The New York Times dubbed "the future of K-pop." The song's aggressive beat drops and chaotic energy divided listeners, with some calling it "genuinely atrocious," yet it amassed over half a billion streams.
The group's Gap advertisement, released in August, went viral with 400 million views and 8 billion social media impressions-a statistic that left singer Megan Skiendiel joking, "Isn't there only 7 billion people in the world?" Last month, they won Best Performance at the MTV Awards, and earlier this week, they became only the third girl group in Grammy history to earn a Best New Artist nomination, following SWV and Wilson Phillips.
A Diverse, Global Lineup
Katseye's members, aged 17 to 22, hail from six different backgrounds: Daniela Avanzini (Venezuelan-Cuban American, Atlanta), Lara Raj (Indian-Sri Lankan American, New York), Manon Bannerman (Ghanaian-Italian, Zurich), Megan Skiendiel (Chinese-Singaporean American, Honolulu), Sophia Laforteza (Filipino, Manila), and Yoonchae Jeung (South Korean, Seoul). They were assembled through The Debut: Dream Academy, a reality competition by Hybe (the label behind BTS and Le Sserafim) and Geffen Records (home to Olivia Rodrigo and Guns N' Roses).
Their formation involved a rigorous two-year bootcamp of daily dance drills, vocal training, and relentless critique. "We were once scolded for unsynchronized steps-told our dancing sounded like 'a group of people falling down stairs' rather than 'one person walking,'" recalled Skiendiel. Today, their cohesion is undeniable: they learned the complex choreography for their Gap ad in a single day. "The longer we're together, the faster we sync," she added.
Cultural Impact and Spice Girls Comparisons
Katseye's unapologetic diversity has resonated deeply with fans. At a London showcase last month, Melanie C (of the Spice Girls) praised their inclusivity, drawing parallels to her former group: "The Spice Girls let people see themselves in us. Katseye opens that door even wider."
Bannerman emphasized the group's mission: "Our top priority is showing young girls-no matter where they're from or what they look like-to be proud of their roots." Raj, despite the backlash she's faced, urged aspiring musicians from marginalized backgrounds to persevere: "Please don't hold back. Our heritage is our power. Use it, own it."
"You cannot feel held back. Our skin color, our culture is our power. Use it and own it."
Lara Raj, Katseye
