KATSEYE Spark Massive Controversy — Girl Group Accused Of “Icing Out” Manon
HYBE and Geffen Records’ global girl group KATSEYE is facing growing backlash as fans raise concerns about member Manon’s repeated absence from group activities.
The conversation gained traction earlier this week when a tweet pointing out Manon’s missing presence in multiple promotions went viral. Fans quickly compiled a list of instances where Manon was either completely absent or noticeably sidelined, intensifying scrutiny.
Among the most talked-about examples is the group’s recent billboard celebration for their partnership with Glossier. While the other members were seen posing in front of the ad, Manon was not present. Her face in the billboard is also covered by one of the members.
dreamiest collab, thank you Glossier!!
billboard locations:
🩷Sunset Blvd & Alta Vista
🩷Melrose Ave & Harper Ave
🩷Venice – Pacific Ave (between Windward Ave & Zephyr Ct) pic.twitter.com/vrpj0ekFg0— KATSEYE (@katseyeworld) May 24, 2025
Fans also noticed that her individual photo was missing from KATSEYE’s recent group interview with Hypebae, further fueling their concern.
while were at it, hypebae didnt post a pic for manon pic.twitter.com/nWwjoA5HbF
— keni⁷ ✶ on strike (@somanon) July 19, 2025
Adding to the frustration, a promotional video for the group’s collaboration with Monster High — where members reacted to their own dolls — showed very limited screen time for Manon, with little to no individual focus or commentary from her. This was seemingly the last straw.
idk maybe i’m reaching but i smell an agenda being pushed…. https://t.co/cAzQrjyWEm
— like a bag of takis ON STRIKE (@gtfo_jaronnn) July 19, 2025
For many fans, the pattern is now too frequent to be chalked up as a coincidence. Some have started voicing suspicions that the company may be deliberately sidelining the KATSEYE star, who is the only Black member of the group.
And I’ll be unstanning if manon leaves https://t.co/DMdy5ZQPgB pic.twitter.com/5RHaxvJzaS
— ?ani? (@detectivewon_) July 19, 2025
manon is literally the backbone of the group idk what geffen is thinking bc if she leaves i leave love the other girls but katseye is not katseye without manon pic.twitter.com/tnn70N9tEi
— mya (@hyeinssss) July 19, 2025
no shade i’ll be tuning out if manon leaves https://t.co/4uqBzntoFz pic.twitter.com/rIOwSOnJae
— ★— nae (@eyeofnae) July 19, 2025
This was the start of the mistreatment towards Manon and its sad that HxG learned nothing from it💔 pic.twitter.com/TUnflkgcwD
— ❄️ (@gen4shooter) July 19, 2025
Comparisons are already being drawn to the treatment of Black girl group stars in the past, such as Leigh-Anne Pinnock of Little Mix and Normani from Fifth Harmony.
📌 a thread on how manon has been excluded from katseye. pic.twitter.com/OxrrXPkwnH
— jae || on strike (@meretmoon) July 19, 2025
maybe this is parasocial, idc rn, but to me as a black girl seeing a doll that resembles you even down to the BRAIDS had to have been a huge moment for manon. why would you rob the fans of seeing her joy and excitement to this.
don’t dim black joy ever !! hell is hot and ready pic.twitter.com/I384rmFwfh
— cup . ݁𝜗𝜚. ݁ | on strike. (@manon_nom) July 19, 2025
girl groups don't deserve black girls because yall keep on doing the same shit over over. leigh-anne and normani then, and manon now. pic.twitter.com/WVTzXpLrdC
— ru✧ (@kennasruuj) July 19, 2025
As online criticism continues to mount, neither HYBE, Geffen Records, nor KATSEYE’s official accounts have issued a statement addressing the controversy.
