KATSEYE member Daniela has recently faced criticism online after a short TikTok clip went viral. In the video, she was seen reacting while her bandmates mentioned Billie Eilish’s song “Lunch,” which many interpret as a queer anthem.
Some viewers thought Daniela’s expression looked uncomfortable or disapproving, and accused her of being unsupportive of the LGBTQ+ community.
The backlash quickly spread on social media, especially since KATSEYE has openly queer representation. Lara came out earlier this year as queer, calling herself “half fruitcake” on Weverse, while Megan revealed she was bisexual during a Pride Month livestream. Their openness has been praised by fans, which made Daniela’s reaction stand out even more to some followers.
Adding to the situation, fans also pointed out that the 21-year-old star follows certain controversial figures on Instagram, including a pro-Israel activist. While following someone doesn’t necessarily mean agreement, it fueled speculation about her personal views.
Around the same time, another unrelated video circulated online from a public event, showing influencer Alex Consani warmly greeting KATSEYE members but seemingly skipping Daniela. Some fans connected the two incidents and assumed tension, even though there was no real link.
Daniela decided to address the rumors directly. On Weverse, she wrote: “All I said was I’m straight… that doesn’t mean I’m not supportive of other communities. I have a guncle (gay uncle) and I f*king love him <3.”
She also asked fans to stop targeting Consani, adding: “Please leave Alex alone, I love her sm thank uuuuuu.” Her message made clear that while she identifies as straight, she supports the LGBTQ+ community and has close family ties to it.
This was not the first time Daniela spoke about her sexuality. Back in May, during a casual Weverse livestream with Lara and Manon, she addressed ongoing fan rumors. With a smile, she jokingly denied what she called the “gay allegations,” and said she was straight. Her groupmates reacted with laughter and light applause.
On the work front, KATSEYE has had an incredible year so far, with the successful release of a mini-album, back-to-back HOT 100 entries, performances at Lollapalooza and MTV VMAs. After a big win at the VMAs, KATSEYE has dropped the visualizer for their b-side song, M.I.A (from EP Beautiful Chaos) on September 9.
