K-pop girl group HYBE KATEYEa global US-Korea collaborative project, revealed in a BBC interview on November 11 that it has received numerous death threats online since their debut last year. Members also revealed 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 out about racial and sexist harassment towards the group. False complaints were filed with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alleging that she was living and working in the United States illegally. He added: “People rate us as women, assigning scores to our appearance, singing and dancing seems dystopian.”
To protect her mental health, Lara deleted her X (formerly Twitter) account, highlighting the importance of not letting public opinion control her life.
While the group did not reveal specific threats, the 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: “We feel like we are mentally terrified.”
KATEYE is a six-member group formed by HYBE in collaboration with Geffen Records (Universal Music, USA), incorporating K-pop training methods into the US music market. The team includes Manon (Switzerland), Sophia (Philippines), Daniela, Lara, Megan (USA) and Yoonchae (Korea), highlighting their different nationalities and backgrounds.
The group has quickly gained international attention for its cross-cultural concept and global appeal, but their statement highlights the serious impact of online harassment on K-pop idols.
Sources: BBC, Hankyung
