On April 9, KATSEYE member Sophia shared a captivating image on her Instagram featuring the members of her global girl group alongside BTS’ j-hope. This memorable moment was likely captured during j-hope’s HOPE ON THE STAGE world tour concert held in Los Angeles on April 6. Her post included a playful caption, subtly emphasizing their camaraderie.
“@UARMYHOPE KATSEYE BIG BROTHER!!!”
While many fans celebrated this interaction as a sign of unity between the two artists, some critics voiced concerns about the use of “big brother”to define the relationship. They noted that this same terminology had been used previously to connect BTS with NewJeans, which is currently navigating a complicated situation with HYBE Labels and its subsidiary ADOR.
Community Reactions: Support and Critique
The announcement elicited diverse responses from the fan community. Some supporters highlighted Sophia’s longstanding admiration for BTS, defending her choice of words as genuine and affectionate.
“i love you katseye but no we’re not doing it again,”tweeted a fan on X.
“this day is one for the books for armykons omfg,”said another fan.
Other fans defended Sophia fervently, stating that her affection for BTS had been unwavering since the beginning of her career.
“This girl is obviously being sweet and lovely because she is an army. She has been a loud supporter since day 0. Let her have her moment y’all. Can’t u just say cute and scroll past? Be normal,”expressed a supporter.
“she just called him big brother its no big deal, why are armys so f**king negative. they respect bts, they know bts paved the way for them, just let them be ffs,”another netizen commented.
“guys kats eye is safe dont worry,”wrote a different user on X.
Conversely, others expressed their dissatisfaction with the name “big brother,” voicing concerns about maintaining distinct narratives within the evolving K-pop landscape.
“Nope. No more sister groups narrative please,”said one critic.
“Nah… We’re not doing that.. The last group who claimed BTS sister title was a disaster. Keep going girls.. Slay!”wrote another user.
“I don’t have anything against them. Just…stop with this hybe family thingy,”added the netizen.
Discovering KATSEYE: HYBE’s Pioneering Global Girl Group
KATSEYE made their entrance into the music scene as HYBE’s first global girl group, officially debuting in 2024. Based in Los Angeles and signed under Geffen Records, the group consists of talented members Manon, Sophia, Daniela, Lara, Megan, and Yoonchae. They gained initial fame through the reality survival series, Dream Academy, which showcased their journey to stardom.
In June 2024, KATSEYE released their debut single titled Debut, followed closely by their hit track Touch. By August 2024, they unveiled their first EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), and contributed to the official soundtrack of the film Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld with their song Flame.
Additionally, KATSEYE will be featured in an upcoming documentary titled Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, which will provide an in-depth look at their experiences in the reality competition, preparations for their debut, and more. Within just over a year, KATSEYE has achieved international recognition for their captivating music and impressive performances.
In exciting news, this rising global girl group is set to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago, scheduled for July 31 to August 3, 2025. Stay tuned for what promises to be a groundbreaking performance!