When KATSEYE debuted in 2024, they had this cool girl aura surrounding them. The six member girl group were operating on a level you couldn’t begin to comprehend. They made that clear with their debut single…Debut…
Yes, they literally debuted with a song called Debut but they made it work. Yet, they were still relatable. You could easily see yourself being best friends with them in an alternate timeline.
That balance between being “too cool” yet “we’re just like you” was present in their next single Touch.
There was vulnerability as the girls sang about a partner growing distant. Yet they’re not crying over it. The girls are moving on cause they’re “too young to waste my time”.
When “Empowerment” Looks Like Exploitation
Now KATSEYE is over a year into their debut and this version is almost unrecognizable.
Ever since Gnarly dropped earlier this year, their labels HYBE and Geffen Records have leaned into a more adult, sexualized image for the girls, who are between the ages of 17 and 23.
The choreography got more suggestive. In Gnarly, the girls are twerking. For Gabriela, they get on their knees and show off their butts. Their outfits are getting more revealing, sometimes looking more like lingerie.
Fans are divided. Some are defending the shift with excuses like, “They’re just dressing like girls their age.” Please. The average 17-to-23-year-old can’t afford some of the barely-there outfits KATSEYE wears, nor are they being promoted by a record label. Others claim, “You’re infantilizing them,” or “Just because they’re wearing revealing outfits doesn’t mean they’re catering to the male gaze”.
Those arguments ignore the reasons behind the controversy. This isn’t about moral panic. It’s about power.
Who Benefits From “Sexual Freedom”?
It’s obvious that HYBE and Geffen are trying to endear KATSEYE to an older demographic that includes men AND WOMEN!
(Remember that lesbians and bisexuals exist).
HYBE is definitely pushing into an empowered, strong women image for KATSEYE. In a way, it sounds nice. A group of young women embracing their sexuality, feeling comfortable in their bodies. Who wouldn’t want to support a group like that?
Never forget that KATSEYE is managed by a billion-dollar agency that’s run by middle-aged men. One of the most perverted, nastiest demographics out there (not all middle-aged men are like that but still).
KATSEYE are just one year into their careers. It’s naive to believe they have full creative control over how they’re styled or presented. At most they can suggest alterations that fits their bodies better.
Remember that HYBE has final say over EVERYTHING: their music, their outfits, the choreography, etc.
Uneven Sexualization
Another reason fans are uncomfortable is how uneven the sexualization is. Daniela (who’s Latina American) and Lara (who’s Indian American), are often dressed more provocatively than their peers. That plays into Western stereotypes where women of color are hypersexualized.
It’s not just tone-deaf; it’s deliberate. The visuals are popular because they’re provocative. It’s the same formula that has fueled Hollywood for decades.
The Illusion of Choice
The real problem isn’t just that KATSEYE looks sexy. We don’t know if they want to look that way or if the decision was made for them.
When it comes to young women in the industry adopting a sexual image, you never know if it’s something their labels are forcing on them.
There’s a difference between a grown woman choosing to own her sexuality and a teenage girl being told to show more skin.
KATSEYE’s label will package this as the girls “expressing themselves.” Yet the line between being confident and being groomed is thinner than people want to admit.
Why Fans Are Right to Be Concerned
KATSEYE fans are right to be concerned about how sexualized the group is now. They’re asking valid questions. Why did a group suddenly morph into a hyper-sexualized act? Why is being “strong” or “empowerment” always expressed through women objectifying themselves?
There’s nothing wrong with feeling concerned with how KATSEYE is being presented. When it comes to young female singers adopting a sexual image, you never know if it’s something if it’s something their labels are forcing on them.
