The global girl group KATSEYE has been under the scrutinizing eye of the public since they debuted, but especially now after the release of their single, “PINKY UP.” The quality of its music isn’t the only aspect being criticized,but also the sexualization of the members and the hiatus of the member Manon Bannerman. 

KATSEYE has really leaned into the hyperpop genre. Their song “Gnarly” went viral for their experimental sound, and since then, KATSEYE has continued to produce avant-garde music. Fans speculate that the group is trying to replicate the internet sensation that “Gnarly” was, but is falling short in the execution.

When it comes to “PINKY UP,” many people criticize the lyrics for having no substance and being random, like the line “We Mona Lisa with a cute attitude.” The lyrics have lost meaning, especially in comparison to their first EP, Soft is Strong.

The themes of sisterhood and staying soft in a hard world resonated with Eyekons, the group’s fanbase. One notable lyric from the song “My Way” is “Even if I mess it all up and make a million mistakes, at least I can say I did it my way,” reflecting the group’s resilience and dedication to their individuality.

“I believe that they have the talent, but their producers heavily limit it…they often use heavy marketing for the songs to blow up even if they aren’t good; the music became worse and worse only because it lacks vocality and lyrical strength,” freshman Tyler Lee said. 

The producers don’t give the girls enough room to shine. In Soft is Strong, lead vocalists Lara Raj and Sofia Laforteza were recognized for their voices, but their more recent songs aren’t able to show off their skills. Despite the strong potential in their voices, members have been criticized for shaky vocals and using autotune during live performances.

Another point of contention in the fandom are the outfits the members are wearing. The girls of KATSEYE work with a styling team for concerts and music videos, with many of the items getting more revealing as time passes. Member Jeung Yoonchae turned 18 in December 2025, which makes all of the members adults. Some of the girls don miniskirts and bralette tops in the “PINKY UP” music video, which has some fans concerned over the sexualization of the girls. 

However, what is arguably the most talked about among fans is the hiatus of Manon Bannerman. Occasionally in the past, members have missed out on performances, photoshoots, and music videos due to an illness or injury, but this is the first instance where a member has gone on a formal hiatus. Fans feel as if Manon is being erased from the group, as she’s removed multiple KATSEYE-related posts from her Instagram account. 

On KATSEYE’s X and Weverse accounts, the message about Manon’s hiatus was posted.

“After open and thoughtful conversations together, we are sharing that Manon will be taking a temporary hiatus from group activities to focus on her health and wellbeing,” Hybe and Geffen Records said. The true problem with her hiatus lies within the fandom, though. Fans have been seen in the comments putting down the other members in defense of Manon, and vice versa. KATSEYE’s main dancer, Daniela Avanzini, has been receiving hate for “outdancing” the other members and having bad vocals. Users on Reddit who are dancers themselves have had discussions about why Daniela is so over-the-top with her performances. Some argue she learned it from ballroom dancing as a child, and others do agree that she’s doing too much. 

In the past, Manon has been put down for being the only Black woman in KATSEYE, being called lazy and the “weakest link”. 

“Now I feel like I always need to put in extra work to prove something, even though I really don’t,” she told The Cut in February 2026, just a few weeks prior to her hiatus. 

Despite the controversy surrounding the group, dedicated Eyekons keep up hope that the group will make a strong comeback. KATSEYE recently performed at the Coachella music festival, where they were praised for their unique show elements. KATSEYE could definitely build off their rave-like shows, but for now, the group must get over the obstacles between them and make a global comeback.