HYBE’s new girl group SAINT SATINE is already facing major controversy before officially debuting, after one member was accused of acting “mean” toward fellow member Sakura during the group’s first livestream together.

What was supposed to be an exciting introduction for fans quickly turned into one of the most talked-about K-pop dramas online this week, as social media users began analyzing every interaction between the members in viral clips circulating across X and TikTok.

Earlier this week, HYBE officially revealed the final lineup for SAINT SATINE, confirming that Emily, Lexie, Samara, and Sakura would debut together as the company’s newest global girl group. Shortly after the announcement, the members held their first Weverse Live to greet fans and celebrate the formation of the team.

However, viewers quickly began focusing on Lexie’s behavior toward Sakura.

Several clips from the livestream spread rapidly online, with some netizens claiming Lexie appeared cold, distant, or visibly uncomfortable whenever Sakura spoke. Others pointed to moments where they felt Lexie avoided eye contact, gave short responses, or created an awkward atmosphere during the broadcast.

The backlash escalated even further because this was not the first time fans suspected tension surrounding Sakura’s addition to the lineup.

Following the final member announcement, some viewers had already begun speculating that certain trainees were unhappy Sakura was chosen instead of Ayana, another contestant who had developed a strong fanbase during the pre-debut process. As a result, the livestream footage immediately fueled theories that there were lingering frustrations within the group itself.

One viral post read:

“Maybe she wasn’t everyone’s first choice, but I genuinely feel bad for her now.”

Another user wrote:

“The group already feels messy and she hasn’t even debuted yet.”

Many fans expressed sympathy for Sakura, arguing that she is already under enormous pressure. Supporters pointed out that she is not only preparing for debut under intense public scrutiny, but also adjusting to life in the United States while being placed into a newly formed team dynamic that millions of viewers are now dissecting in real time.

Some fans even compared the situation to previous survival-show groups where late additions to final lineups often struggled to integrate smoothly with the rest of the members.

At the same time, another side of the fandom believes the backlash against Lexie has gone far too far.

Defenders argued that viewers are overanalyzing tiny facial expressions and awkward pauses from a rookie group that has barely spent time together publicly. Others noted that first livestreams are often uncomfortable even among close friends, especially for idols under pressure to appear perfect in front of thousands of viewers.

Some fans also criticized the growing trend of creating “villain edits” from short clips taken out of context, saying the internet has become too eager to turn normal interactions into evidence of bullying or internal conflict.

Still, the controversy continues gaining traction because of how important SAINT SATINE is expected to be for HYBE’s future plans in the increasingly competitive fifth-generation girl group market.

Instead of conversations about music, visuals, or performance skills, the group’s first major viral moment has become a debate over alleged member tension and favoritism. The situation has already caused visible divisions within the fandom, with supporters taking sides and closely monitoring future interactions between Sakura and Lexie.

For many fans, the drama highlights a larger issue within modern K-pop culture: every glance, pause, or awkward interaction can instantly become “proof” of conflict once social media begins building a narrative around it.

Whether the clips truly show genuine tension or simply nervous rookie idols adjusting to a new environment, one thing is clear — SAINT SATINE’s debut era has already become surrounded by controversy before the group has even released its first song.