Cat's Eye, the Korean-American global girl group from HYBE, revealed that they have received multiple death threats online since their debut.
On November 11 (local time), they appeared in an interview with the BBC to discuss this issue. According to the BBC interview, member Lara, a U.S. citizen of Tamil Indian descent, has received over 1,000 death threats online. Lara stated, "I try to tell myself it doesn't matter, but receiving death threats from 1,000 people is shocking," adding, "Even if nothing happens, it's overwhelming."
Moreover, Lara has also faced racial discrimination regarding her gender identity. She pointed out, "People assess us as women rated by grades. They score us on our looks, singing, and dancing abilities, and show those as a percentage." Additionally, there were rumors that false reports were made to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stating that she is living and working in the U.S. illegally.
To avoid such negative online criticism, Lara chose to delete her social media accounts. She said, "I deleted my X (formerly Twitter) account," realizing she didn't need to be swayed by other people's opinions.
Cat's Eye is a global K-pop girl group formed by HYBE and Geffen Records, with six members of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities, capturing significant attention in Western markets since their debut album.
According to the chart released by Billboard on November 15, Cat's Eye's second EP 'Beautiful Chaos' features the song 'Gabriela', which has risen to 33rd place on the Hot 100, up four spots from the previous week, continuing its meteoric rise in popularity. On the 'Pop Airplay' chart, based on radio counts and listenership data in the U.S., 'Gabriela' landed at 14th, marking the group's highest position on this chart, climbing two spots from last week.
As they continue to gain global momentum, Cat's Eye's revelations about their struggles have shocked many fans. This situation is particularly distressing considering they are a rookie girl group that has not yet celebrated their three-year debut anniversary.
Leader Sophia emphasized, "We chose to step into the public eye, and I know that what happens to us is part of being famous," while Manon expressed, "I feel like we are being terrorized mentally."