"Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE" Star Responds To Hate Comments After Allegedly Shading Manon

On August 21, Netflix premiered the anticipated docuseries Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE. It follows the formation of the K-Pop-trained HYBE and Geffen Records international girl group KATSEYE ahead of the survival show The Debut: Dream Academy.

One trainee who didn’t make it to the survival show was London-based dancer Naisha. She was kicked out after she shared a new unreleased song via a private Instagram account. According to the Geffen Records and HYBE team, the private account had followers who were not part of the program, causing the controversy.

@gwenchannaur

Naisha was eliminated in Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE © Netflix #katseye #geffen #hybe #netflix #dreamacademy

♬ original sound – gwenchannaur – POOKEY푸키

Many were initially outraged by Naisha’s departure. Some felt that she was done dirty.

Just started Pop Star Academy and they really made a mistake cutting Naisha but tbh missy didn’t like her from the beg and I feel like she was waiting for a reason. pic.twitter.com/dyiFEjIesn

— Ivan Ooze (@papaGemini) September 4, 2024

watching this pop star academy doc and they def did naisha dirty…also this geffen team is just so weird

— ☆ (@miniijun) September 7, 2024

Others felt that Naisha’s behavior was inexcusable. They have also been alarmed by her actions since then.

Naisha being eliminated has nothing to do with her being black, why does everyone assume that?? 🤦🏼‍♀️ her goofy ahh shouldn’t have posted a PRIVATE ORIGINAL song??? And now she on manon hate bandwagon?? Womp womp

— Saechu (@saesaechix) September 2, 2024

Naisha is weird asf y'all she's literally so manipulative and using the fact that's she's a poc to excuse her behaviour towards manon is insane cus Manon is also a black woman. She made that comment to shade manon now she's trying to say it was only to praise Lara like bffr

— 🪷Nessa🪷 (@heart_manon) September 9, 2024

Her biggest controversy since the show is her interaction with a post made by KATSEYE member Lara. She commented on one of Lara’s Instagram updates, claiming that Lara was “having to hold it down for the black gir[l]s.” Netizens thought this was an incredibly peculiar thing to say, considering Lara is Indian, so she would be regarded as Brown, not Black. Most fans had no other way to interpret this comment than as shade toward fellow KATSEYE member Manon, who is Black.

Now, Naisha is addressing her comment in a new video posted to her TikTok.

Firstly, Naisha thanked those who have been sending her love and support. On the other hand, the majority of the video addressed the hate comments and death threats she has received.

Naisha revealed she had commented on Lara’s post about a year ago. She claimed that Lara was a friend who had greatly supported and inspired her. She defended her comment, claiming that Lara, a woman of color, always attempts to uplift others, which, as a result, will inspire all women of color. She said, “That comment was about nobody else but her.”

When I saw her win, I was so, so happy for her that I was like, ‘Dude, you’re not just holding it down for the Brown girls, like you’re gonna end up holding it down for everyone … I said, ‘You’re gonna end up holding it down for the Black girls as well.’ …You’re not only reaching Brown girls’ heart, you’re reaching Black girls’ heart, you’re gonna reach so many people with this attitude. ‘Cause as a woman of color, she did nothing but to pour into, inspire, uplift, and elevate everyone around her…

— Naisha

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LARA RAJ (@lararajj)

Naisha claimed that “holding it down” didn’t mean “represent” in that context. She also refuted that the comment had anything to do with Manon, although the original post featured Manon at the center of the group picture.

@naishawaters

Thanks for watching & red hearts to all ❤️ #fyp

♬ original sound – Naisha

Naisha said she did delete the comment after realizing how it was interpreted. She also denied the rumors that Lara unfollowed her.

There are followers who remain supportive of Naisha. Many attempted to encourage her.

Still, the majority of comments do not buy her explanations. Some still feel Naisha was “shading” Manon, and they didn’t believe her excuses about being close to Lara since they had not seen interactions with them on the show.

While the video only garnered 80K views on TikTok, it garnered a combined total of 600K views on X (formerly Twitter) at the time of writing after two posts went viral. Netizens felt her apology video was nonsensical and gaslighting-filled.

HOW DID I MISS THIS PART? YOU CAN TELL SHE LYING CUS WHY WAS SHE JUST RAMBLING NONSENSE LIKE TF DOES THIS EVEN MEAN ? HELPSKSKSKSKSK #KATSEYE #KATSEYE_Manon #PopStarAcademy_KATSEYE pic.twitter.com/JRugnHjZUB

— musa 🇸🇩 (@politicalblink) September 9, 2024

there is a black girl in the middle being black in the middle being black in the center being black in the middle https://t.co/obzhUYFNFV

— julia (@meiyokies) September 9, 2024

The death threats and harassment are unnecessary but like there’s no way to spin it. Telling an Indian girl she’s holding it down for the black girls too when there’s a whole half black girl in the group?! Naisha girl 😭💀 https://t.co/16fMBFsiJ1

— Ayush (@aishaacity) September 9, 2024