KATSEYE’s “Hootie Frutti,” one of the standout tracks off their new WILD EP, has faced criticism from two different directions since its release this past week. The first wave of backlash centered on the concept and visual direction of the release itself, with a portion of fans and netizens arguing it leaned into an overly mature aesthetic that felt out of step with the group’s large following of young fans, especially given that member Yoonchae is still a minor. It’s a criticism that’s followed the group in some form since their debut, tied to a broader, ongoing industry conversation about how girl groups with underage members are styled and marketed.
A Separate, More Concrete Concern
The second wave of criticism is more straightforward and less about interpretation: safety. Following the song’s first live performance at the TODAY show’s Citi Concert in New York, fans flagged a specific headbanging move performed by Daniela, Megan, and Yoonchae as genuinely risky, raising concern that the motion could lead to injury if performed repeatedly across a touring schedule. Some fans also described the overall routine as visibly out of sync during that first live outing.
[MY TAKE]
These aren’t one blob of criticism, they’re two completely different problems. One is about underaged girls being oversexualized. The other is a genuine health and safety concern. Grouping them together does a disservice to both issues.
Timing Makes It Worse
The backlash lands during an already precarious stretch for the group. With Sophia now on hiatus as of August 7th, joining Manon, who’s been on hiatus since February, KATSEYE is performing and promoting this era with just four of six members. A choreography injury concern hitting right now would be a significant setback given how thin the group’s active lineup already is.
