Katseye's Lara Raj has spoken candidly about the online hate the global girl group has faced since the release of their new music, while also defending their pop hit 'Gnarly'. The group recently dropped their third EP Wild, and members Manon Bannerman and Sophia Laforteza are on a temporary hiatus from the band. As their music evolves and they continue to dominate the charts, some listeners have criticised the direction of their new sound.
Lara Raj on the Controversy Around 'Gnarly'
During a group interview with Nicky Reardon, Lara opened up about the hate Katseye has experienced following the release of their new music. She said: "We made a decision where we were like, we do not want to do things that are just like, 'It's cool'. Yeah, 'It's whatever', 'That was good', and then you forget about it. Like, we want it to like stick in people's heads."
Reflecting on the backlash they received for their 2025 song 'Gnarly', Lara continued: "And I think that the controversy of Gnarly prepared us to do that for the rest of our career. When people give us hate now, it's like, whatever. Really, like, I think it really taught us that things can switch up like that. And people's opinions cannot affect our own opinion of anything."
Sophia Laforteza's Previous Comments on Backlash
This is not the first time the group has spoken out about the hate they receive online. During an interview with Jake Shane on 'Therapuss', Sophia clapped back at the backlash. She said: "We're just girls doing our best to empower and to impact the world, and fulfil our dream. We just wanna sing and dance. And then y'all are like, 'Oh my god, Katseye's done!'. 'Like, I'm so mad at the face she just made'. Like sorry, just close your eyes."
Impact on the Group's Future
The group's ability to handle criticism has been tested as they navigate the release of their third EP Wild and the temporary hiatus of two members. Lara's comments suggest that the controversy surrounding 'Gnarly' has steeled the group for future scrutiny, allowing them to focus on creating music that leaves a lasting impression rather than simply being forgettable.
