KATSEYE’s ‘Gnarly’ Stage Outfit Sparks Fierce Debate Online: Feminism or Overreaction?
A recent performance by global girl group KATSEYE has ignited a flurry of debate online, with a post titled “What do you think about the KATSEYE Twitter controversy?” going viral on the Korean forum Pann. The post, which featured a photo of the group performing their latest title track “Gnarly” on M Countdown, has racked up nearly 32,000 views, reigniting the ever-present discussion around K-pop stage costumes and social expectations.
The image was accompanied by the caption: “People say this outfit is too revealing..? Then what exactly are they supposed to wear?” That single sentence opened the floodgates to a wave of polarized commentary, with netizens fiercely split on whether the outfit crossed the line or was simply reflective of current global pop trends.
Comments on Pann:
- “Aren’t they an American idol group to begin with? LOL. The stage was powerful and satisfying to watch. People are overreacting. As soon as there’s a bit of skin or boldness, everyone acts like it’s forced exploitation. Isn’t that the very mindset that undermines the women’s rights they claim to defend?”
- “Feminist Twitter, stop attacking girl groups.”
- “I seriously don’t see what’s supposed to be so ‘revealing’ about it. This is just exaggerated outrage.”
- “This doesn’t even qualify as a controversy—it’s laughable.”
- “Wasn’t Hyein around 14 or 15 back then? LOL. Funny how those feminists were praising NewJeans at the time, but now they’re throwing a fit over mature Cali ‘hot girls’ wearing something similar. Honestly, the bigger problem is creating infantilized content for girls who aren’t even trying to be sexy. That promotes pedophilic undertones way more than this does.”
This isn’t the first time a K-pop girl group has sparked debate over stage outfits, but the clash of cultural perspectives—especially between Korean netizens and international feminist discourse—continues to fuel polarizing opinions.
