The Rise and Fall of VCHA
VCHA was supposed to be a bold experiment. Formed through A2K (America2Korea), a survival show launched by JYP Entertainment and Republic Records, the group was meant to bring K-pop’s polish to an American girl group format. With a diverse lineup, a big budget, and a cross-cultural mission, VCHA had all the ingredients of a global breakout.
After their official debut in early 2024, things unraveled quickly. Member KG filed a lawsuit against JYP USA in December, alleging mistreatment, unsafe working conditions, and verbal abuse. Not long after, the youngest member Kaylee quietly left the group in July 2025. Just like that, two out of six members were gone, and VCHA’s promising story soon became a cautionary tale.
Now, the remaining members Camila, Lexi, Kendall, and Savanna are back with a new name: GIRLSET. Their first single, Commas, is set to drop August 29, 2025. Not everyone is celebrating. The rebrand might offer a clean slate, but the shadow of their past hasn’t lifted.
A Fresh Start or a Distraction?
In a way, a rebrand makes sense. The original group lost a third of its members and its public image took a massive hit. Wiping the slate clean is the most efficient way to regain public interest and pivot the brand. The group’s social media accounts were deleted and the members launched personal Instagram accounts. There’s a new name, a new single, and reportedly a new sound, one that leans further into American pop influences and non-Korean producers.
However, you don’t just rebrand controversy away. The underlying concern here isn’t the name change, it’s what that change is covering up.
KG’s lawsuit is still ongoing. Her allegations weren’t minor, and while JYP hasn’t said much publicly, the silence hasn’t comforted fans. The fear is that the remaining girls didn’t actually choose this rebrand. They were just told to smile through it and move on.
It doesn’t help that the K-pop industry has a long history of choosing silence over transparency. So even if management has learned from their mistakes, no one will know unless they’re willing to speak up. And right now, they’re not.
Fans Are Split and Rightfully So
Reaction to the rebrand is divided. Some fans are just relieved to see the girls still standing. With so many girl groups disbanding this year, the idea that JYP and Republic Records are still investing in them is a rare glimmer of hope. These fans want to support GIRLSET as a second chance for the remaining four.
However, others can’t ignore the red flags. They remember what KG said in her lawsuit. They remember the long hiatus that lasted for months with no word on what was going on. They’re not convinced this rebrand is in the girls’ best interest.
There’s a growing unease in the K-pop fandom about how young idols are treated. There’s also concern that foreign or mixed-race members receive worse treatment than the Korean members. So when a group undergoes a rebrand right after losing members and facing serious accusations, it triggers alarm bells. People aren’t just worried about image, they’re worried about safety.
Why GIRLSET Will Always Be Under the Microscope
The reality is that GIRLSET doesn’t get a clean slate. The rebrand might fool casual listeners, but long-time fans won’t forget. If JYP doesn’t tread carefully, every move the girls make will be dissected.
Did someone look uncomfortable in a behind-the-scenes clip? Fans will notice. Did one member get fewer lines in the new single? People will ask why. That’s not cynicism, it’s caution, born out of everything that’s already happened.
Worse, if even one thing feels off, someone will cry mistreatment, and it doesn’t take much to ignite a new wave of backlash. GIRLSET will have to walk on eggshells while trying to build a new identity. It’s an impossible balance act: look confident, but not forced. Act happy, but not robotic. Be authentic, but stay within management’s lines.
That’s a heavy load for four young women who are just trying to do what they love.
Will This Rebrand Work?
It depends on what you mean by “work.”
If we’re talking numbers like streams, views, chart positions, then yes, GIRLSET might do just fine. With the right promotions and a good song, there’s enough curiosity and goodwill to make a strong debut. If we’re talking reputation and trust, the answer is murkier.
Rebrands only succeed when they come with visible, tangible change. Not just new logos and aesthetics. We’re talking new policies, new protections, and a clear acknowledgment of past wrongs. So far, there’s been no public statement about how things will be different this time. No apology, no admission of wrongdoing. Just silence and rebranding. Silence doesn’t rebuild trust. It just buries it.
A New Name Can’t Fix an Old Problem
GIRLSET’s rebrand is a high-stakes gamble. It’s an attempt to hit reset without confronting what went wrong. While the girls deserve a chance to move forward, that future shouldn’t come at the cost of transparency or accountability.
Fans want to believe things are different and they want to support the members. They also want assurance that those members are safe, respected, and empowered. Until management proves that not through action, there will always be a question mark hanging over GIRLSET.
A name change is easy, real change is harder. Let’s hope they choose the latter.
