"Our skin colour, our culture is our power": Katseye respond to alleged racist abuse and death threats amid Grammy success

Katseye has responded to the alleged racist abuse and death threats they received online following their historic Grammy nominations.

In a BBC interview published on November 11, Katseye revealed receiving thousands of death threats that not only target them but also their families. They described the messages as “really heavy.”

Lara Raj, who is of Tamil Indian heritage, has been the subject of racist slurs and doxxing. Also, a false report to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accused her of being undocumented despite being a U.S. citizen. She encouraged woman from different backgrounds and cultures to pursue their dreams; despite the online harassment she faced. Raj told BBC:

“Please do it. You cannot feel held back. Our skin colour, our culture is our power. Use it and own it.”

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Katseye reacts to death threats amid Grammy nominations

In response to the online threats received by Katseye, they shared about the challenges they faced, especially in the wake of their Grammy nominations.

In a candid interview with BBC News, one of the group members, Sophia Laforteza, who is of Filipino-American heritage, said:

“Our career has been really short, but I feel like we've gotten a lot of things already said to us, to our families. 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.”

While the other band member, Lara Raj, shared with the outlet how people rank them based on their appearance and skills. She said:

“People see us as women to rank. They'll grade us based on how pretty we are, our singing skill, dancing skill, and then add it up and give us a percentage. That's so dystopian.”

Her bandmate Manon Bannerman also opened up about facing derogatory comments. She told the BBC:

“I feel like it's very terrorising on the mind.”

The group consisting of Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia, and Yoonchae has been nominated for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the upcoming 68th Annual Grammy Awards.

While speaking to Complex magazine, Katseye described that they were overwhelmed by being nominated for the Grammys. One of their members said that they feel “on top of the world.”

Others shared that they cried, while some were shocked on hearing the news, as they worked extremely hard to reach the place where they stand today. Katseye made their debut last year under HYBE and Geffen Records. Touch, Gabriela, Déjà vu, My Way, and Gnarly are some of the popular tracks released by their group.

Daniela Andrea Avanzini Llorente is of Venezuelan, Cuban, and Italian heritage from Atlanta. She is fluent in English and Spanish. Lara Rajagopalan is an Indian-Sri Lankan from Los Angeles. Her parents are both ethnically Tamil. Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman’s mother is of Swiss-Italian descent, and her father is from Ghana.

Megan Meiyok Skiendiel is from Hawaii. Her mother is of Singaporean Chinese descent, and her father is of Swedish American descent. She speaks English, basic Cantonese, and basic French. Sophia Elizabeth Guevara Laforteza is ethnically Filipina from Queens. Jeong Yoonchae is from South Korea. She can speak both Korean and English.

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