Lineup For HYBE’s New Global Boy Group Project Already Sparks Major Criticism
HYBE has seen success with “global groups” after debuting KATSEYE from the show Dream Academy, but the newest project has sparked backlash.
Back in 2023, it was announced that HYBE had established a Latin American subsidiary.
HYBE Establishes Latin American Subsidiary To Enter Latin Music Market
While there had been news of a new global group debuting, it was confirmed with a trailer for a survival show to debut a new boy group.
Through the project, HYBE Latin America wants to debut a global boy group with the name Santos Bravos. The criticism started very early as netizens thought the name was “stereotypical.”
“let’s take two stereotypical words and put them together” https://t.co/Ro4Rll48qc
— chris (@pozoloona) July 10, 2025
santos bravos….jk rowling ass name https://t.co/7dh3242iek
— thàis🐞 (@jaemiaus) July 10, 2025
The photos of the contestants were also shared.
This also sparked some controversy, with netizens saying the lineup lacked diversity. With contestants from so many different countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, Spain, and the US, many thought it didn’t represent the beauty of Latin America.
What in the paper bag test
— Ana ⁎𖤐⁎⁺˳✧ UPPUZTRON3000 (@TERRYNAT0R) July 10, 2025
HYBE when deciding which black people can be in their groups https://t.co/jypQtgcum0 pic.twitter.com/4bWHt0qzsL
— odessa 🏁🏎️ ★ °✩⋆˙ (@hyeindolls) July 10, 2025
no way they’re supposed to represent Latin American men… barely any diversity😭 https://t.co/ijdj6qB7dy
— gayli :Þ (@peggabIe) July 10, 2025
im trying so hard not to shit on them bc im latina but im ngl there are so many beautiful latino men and they brought in whitexicans https://t.co/THZ0ZKVhpu
— didi novia de taehyun amante de soobin (@miautaehyun) July 10, 2025
It seems like HYBE is hoping to replicate the success of global girl group KATSEYE with the new project.
