Bang Si Hyuk’s Involvement Questioned In KATSEYE’s Song Controversy Over 19+ Audio
KATSEYE, the multinational girl group produced by HYBE’s chairman Bang Si Hyuk, is facing growing criticism after allegedly including audio resembling male-female sexual moaning in their latest track.
The controversy surrounds the song “Gnarly,” a B-side from the group’s second EP “Beautiful Chaos” released on April 30. The track, described as hyperpop dance, features aggressive and edgy production.
Composers credited for the song include Chinese hyperpop artist Alice Longyu Gao, Pink Slip, Slow Rabbit, and Bang Si Hyuk himself.
What sparked backlash was the use of a woman’s moaning sounds at the beginning of the track — sounds that reappear mid-song. Originally, the demo version reportedly contained laughter in those segments, but in the final version, the laughter was replaced with moaning audio.
Adding to the controversy, composer Pink Slip reportedly responded to criticism by expressing pride over including the moans.
Producer Of Popular Idol Song Implies Inappropriate Sexual Noises Used For Group With Minor
In an extended playback of the moaning clip from “Gnarly,” a second, different moaning voice can also be heard, further fueling speculation that it was deliberately sexual in nature. The outrage intensified due to the presence of a 17-year-old Korean member, Yoonchae, in the group — raising concerns about the ethical implications of featuring potentially sexual content in a track tied to a minor.
KATSEYE’s song “Gnarly” is under fire after a viral TikTok exposed that one of the sounds in the track might actually be a woman moaning — and the producer basically confirmed it. The group has minors, and the song was performed at the Kids’ Choice Awards. Fans are outraged… pic.twitter.com/R7qrlawnLN
— Xiwang Kpop Tea (@XiwangKpop_Tea) July 31, 2025
Given that Bang Si Hyuk is officially credited as both producer and composer, critics argue he holds direct responsibility for approving the final version. One industry insider stated:
“In production, the final track must be approved by the producer. If it wasn’t intentional, there’s no way it would’ve been included — and there’s no way Chairman Bang didn’t know.”
Not only that, a report from Hankyung claims that he was vital in the production of the song.
At that time, Bang Si Hyuk was central in his role as a producer and song writer, and participated closely with the creation of the song, creating the current track which features a strong performance.
Hankyung
As criticism mounts, HYBE has yet to release an official statement.
