The international girl group Katseye has disclosed receiving thousands of death threats and other online abuse since their 2023 debut, as shared in a recent BBC interview. Member Lara Raj was specifically targeted with a false report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Despite their rising success, the group highlights the human toll of fame and online scrutiny.
Group Background
Katseye, a six-member international girl group, was formed through Geffen Records and HYBE's survival show The Debut: Dream Academy. The process was captured in the Netflix reality series Pop Star Academy: Katseye, with the final lineup—Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Daniela Avanzini, Megan Skiendiel, Yoonchae Jeung, and Sophia Laforteza—announced in 2023. Members hail from the U.S., South Korea, the Philippines, and Switzerland, emphasizing diversity in the pop landscape.
Rise to Fame
Since debuting, Katseye has achieved significant milestones, including a viral TikTok hit with 'Touch,' a performance slot at Lollapalooza, an MTV Video Music Award, and a heavily shared Gap advertisement this fall featuring Kelis' 'Milkshake.' The group is currently on its first tour and is nominated for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Earlier this year, they hired a group therapist to navigate stardom's pressures.
Details of Harassment
In their BBC interview, the members described a surge of online harassment, including thousands of death threats. Lara Raj, an American citizen of Tamil Indian background, recounted being reported to ICE for allegedly working without authorization. 'I try to tell myself it doesn’t matter, but if 1,000 people are sending you death threats … even if it’s not going to happen … it’s heavy, and it’s jarring,' Raj said. Manon Bannerman added that the experience is 'very terrorizing on the mind.'
The group also faces objectification, with Raj noting, 'People see us as women to rank,' based on appearance, singing, and dancing skills. Sophia Laforteza acknowledged fame's public nature but stressed, 'We know that we signed up for being so public. We know it’s a part of fame. But it doesn’t change the fact that we are human.'
On diversity, Bannerman told the Associated Press, 'People want to see diversity … And I really hope that people high up see that and see that it works, and implement that.' Rolling Stone reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment on the ICE report, with no response noted.