Earlier this year, it was announced that HYBE would partner with GEFFEN Records to produce an international girl group through the survival program Dream Academy.
After weeks of eliminations, the line-up of KATSEYE was narrowed to six diverse members, including the Swiss-Ghanaian trainee Manon.
| HYBE KATSEYE’s Manon | HYBE
Recently, fans discovered that Manon was photographed with another woman in a romantic and suggestive photoshoot in her past modeling work.
| The Heart Project | The Heart Project | The Heart Project
One of the images even features the pair kissing while lying down in the romantic setting.
| The Heart Project
With this discovery, netizens have shared some mixed reactions.
The photos were released by a brand called The Heart Project. This community-run collective allows “access to creative contribution and shared ownership” of group creations by purchasing its NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
SOPHIE & MANON for our Hearts VDAY Collection releasing 2/14 🤍 pic.twitter.com/bkZqnpRCJq
— The Heart Project (@HeartNFTs) February 13, 2022
| OpenSea
NFTs have been widely criticized for their negative impact on the environment by K-Pop fans in the past when attempts to merge them with music. Some fans felt slightly “off” about Manon’s involvement in NFTs.
sucks this is nft but we support women ♡ love https://t.co/SHzEv4FFV1
— ً (@linabellwin) December 3, 2023
i can’t believe these are nfts why would u fuck this up https://t.co/FBj9AUG7Qg
— (@bIueora) December 3, 2023
All this for NFTS https://t.co/gIj9ONG7Hw pic.twitter.com/PvJx9m0csJ
— พอตเตอร์อยากเจอเธอใน blindspot (@chonlozhng) December 3, 2023
Another point fans defended against was the alleged suggestion that the photos be hidden due to their LGBTQIA+ content out of fear of adverse reactions.
Many fans pointed out that while KATSEYE was formed through HYBE, they are not likely to be subjected to the same standards K-Pop groups are as they are meant to be a global group.
not loving the people saying we shouldnt talk this… theyre in an american girl group not kpop & a big part of the group’s message is no matter our differences we’re the same, it gets fake when yall say we should hide things to make them more marketable to conservative countries https://t.co/3pyhdE0gb0
— sophi ⬢ tripleS ROTY (@yoosoyu) December 2, 2023
No offense you guys, but you do realize they’re not a K-pop group right they don’t have to abide by Korean standards be different if most of the fanbase was in Korea, but it’s not,that being said mostly y’all are just homophobic and are using Korean standards as a way to hide it. https://t.co/QMw2qwJuQw
— Robyn/🩷pink jongseob 🩷 (@yeoyeo0715) December 2, 2023
shes under hybe AMERICA and america has laws that protect ppl from being discriminated against/fired for being in minority groups, especially w them being based in la https://t.co/b4yabYL3yz
— ☽ (@hanbinero) December 2, 2023
On the other hand, many expressed support for Manon, feeling represented by the upcoming idol without assuming her sexuality.
If you’re not gonna support Manon bc of those Heart NFT photos and think we should hide them to please homophobes then don’t be an eyecon. It’s as simple as that.
— lyra (@i2kats) December 2, 2023
This made me love Manon even more. Can’t wait for this group to debut https://t.co/zTTKy6Cz2u
— Devin Too Woke (@devintoowoke) December 4, 2023
REPRESENTATION !!! https://t.co/xTm1PTljjH
— ً mckayla⁷ ✿ SOOBIN DAY (@HOBIPOGl) December 3, 2023
