The global girl group Katseye say they have endured a wave of online death threats and harassment since their debut last year — a dark side to their rapid rise to pop stardom.
The six-member collective, recently nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, told BBC News that the threats have at times extended to their families, weighing heavily on their mental health.
“I tell myself not to care, but when a thousand people are sending you death threats, it’s jarring,” said Lara Raj, one of the group’s vocalists. “Even if you know it’s unlikely to happen, it’s still heavy.”
Raj, a 20-year-old American of Tamil Indian and Sri Lankan descent, has also faced racist abuse and was even falsely reported to U.S. immigration authorities. The experience pushed her to delete her Twitter (X) account entirely.
“I realised I’m not the audience for other people’s opinions,” she said.
The group did not go into detail about the threats, but such behaviour is increasingly common in fan communities. Other artists, including Chappell Roan, Muna, and Doja Cat, have publicly criticized fans for harassment, spreading misinformation, and invading privacy.
Fellow Katseye member Sophia Laforteza said the band accepts that fame comes with scrutiny but stressed that “it doesn’t change the fact that we’re human.”
Raj also highlighted the sexist nature of online criticism, where female artists are objectified and ranked by appearance or skill.
“People see us as women to rate — how we look, sing, or dance — and then assign us a score. It’s dystopian,” she said.
Despite the negativity, Katseye’s success has been remarkable. Their second EP, Beautiful Chaos, debuted at No. 2 on the U.S. album charts, driven by the viral hit Gnarly and its follow-up Gabriella, written by Charli XCX.
A Gap advertisement featuring the group went viral in August, gaining more than 400 million views and over 8 billion impressions online. The band went on to win Best Performance at the MTV Awards, and just last week, they made history as only the third girl group ever nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys, following SWV and Wilson Phillips.
The members — aged between 17 and 22 — represent a truly global mix of cultures and backgrounds:
- Daniela Avanzini, a Venezuelan-Cuban American from Atlanta
- Lara Raj, an Indian-Sri Lankan American from New York
- Manon Bannerman, a Ghanaian-Italian from Zurich
- Megan Skiendiel, a Chinese-Singaporean American from Honolulu
- Sophia Laforteza, from Manila, Philippines
- Yoonchae Jeung, from Seoul, South Korea
They were chosen through The Debut: Dream Academy, a reality competition created by HYBE (home to BTS and LE SSERAFIM) and Geffen Records. The show narrowed thousands of applicants down to 20 trainees who underwent a two-year intensive program of vocal and dance training before the final six were selected as Katseye.
Their breakout single Gnarly, released in April, divided critics but exploded online, amassing over half a billion streams. The New York Times even called it “the future of K-pop.”
“We knew it would shock people,” said Avanzini. “That was exciting — we wanted to give them something thrilling.”
Now, as Katseye continues to rise, the members say they’re determined to use their platform to celebrate diversity and confidence.
“We’re proud that our group represents so many cultures,” said Bannerman. “We want girls everywhere to feel proud of who they are.”
Raj echoed that sentiment with a message to young artists from underrepresented backgrounds:
“Do it. Don’t hold back. Our skin, our culture — that’s our power. Use it and own it.”