KATSEYE is facing intense online backlash after the group mentioned BTS during their acceptance speech at the American Music Awards.
On May 25 local time, KATSEYE attended the AMAs and won the award for “New Artist of the Year,” marking one of the biggest achievements of the group’s career so far.
During the speech, the members thanked several people and artists who inspired them along the way. One moment that immediately caught fans’ attention came when the group specifically thanked BTS, who were also present at the ceremony.
Member Sophia added:
“Thank you to BTS for inspiring us to represent our cultures.”
At first, many fans viewed the moment positively, especially because BTS has long been praised for helping globalize Asian representation in mainstream music spaces.
However, shortly after clips of the speech spread online, criticism toward KATSEYE began growing rapidly across social media and Korean online communities.
One major criticism came from viewers claiming the speech felt overly corporate or scripted. Some netizens speculated that HYBE may have encouraged or pushed the BTS mention because both groups are connected to the company.
Others focused specifically on the line about “representing cultures,” arguing that the statement became controversial because of ongoing fan concerns surrounding Manon, who is currently on hiatus.
Some commenters questioned whether the speech unintentionally highlighted tensions fans already feel regarding the group’s multicultural image and internal dynamics.
The backlash intensified further because several viewers noticed that the members thanked BTS during the speech but did not directly mention Manon.
That omission quickly sparked speculation online, with some fans interpreting it as a possible sign that rumors about Manon leaving the group could be true.
Although there is currently no official confirmation supporting those rumors, the speech immediately fueled additional anxiety among fans already worried about her hiatus.
Several comments online accused the situation of feeling “awkward” or “intentional,” while others argued fans were reading far too deeply into a short acceptance speech.
The reaction quickly became divided.
Some fans defended KATSEYE strongly, arguing that thanking BTS was completely reasonable given the group’s influence on younger global artists.
Supporters also pointed out that BTS has inspired countless idols across the industry, especially artists navigating multicultural or international identities.
One fan wrote:
“People are acting like thanking BTS is controversial now.”
Another commented:
“BTS absolutely helped normalize global representation in K-pop spaces.”
Others, however, criticized how quickly fandom discourse shifted away from celebrating KATSEYE’s achievement and toward speculation, company politics, and member-related rumors.
Several fans expressed frustration that female groups in particular often face disproportionate scrutiny for even small wording choices during speeches.
At the same time, discussions about Manon’s hiatus continue adding tension to nearly every public KATSEYE appearance.
Because fans currently have limited information regarding her situation, many online communities are hyper-analyzing group interactions, interviews, and speeches for possible clues about the future of the lineup.
Importantly, neither KATSEYE nor HYBE has addressed the backlash directly, and there has been no official indication that the BTS mention was forced or scripted.
There is also no confirmed evidence supporting rumors that Manon is leaving the group.
Still, the situation highlights how quickly even a celebratory awards-show speech can become controversial in modern K-pop fandom culture — especially when discussions involving representation, company influence, and member uncertainty are already emotionally charged topics online.
