KATSEYE member Lara has landed in hot water after a casual remark about Stranger Things 5 during a live stream spiraled into a major controversy.
The incident unfolded on November 29 during a livestream on the fan platform Weverse. Lara, a member of the HYBE girl group KATSEYE, was discussing the Netflix series, Stranger Things. She praised a scene featuring the character Will Byers, portrayed by Noah Schnapp.
She remarked that the character “looks so hot in that last scene.” While seemingly an innocuous fan comment, it ignited fierce backlash on social media platforms like X and Reddit.
The outrage was not directed at the character, but at the actor who plays him, Noah Schnapp. Noah has been at the center of a sustained controversy for over two years.
The backlash Lara faced stems entirely from the political stance of the actor she referenced. Noah Schnapp faced intense criticism following the October 2023 outbreak of war in Gaza.
In late 2023, he was seen in a video with friends handing out stickers that read “Zionism is sexy” and “Hamas is ISIS.” Many perceived this as a flippant endorsement of Israel’s military actions.
Schnapp later addressed the backlash in a January 2024 TikTok video, stating his beliefs had been “misconstrued” and that he wanted “peace and safety for all innocent people”. However, for many, this clarification came too late and did not adequately address the initial actions.
The controversy has resurfaced with the premiere of Stranger Things Season 5. Critics simultaneously panned his performance in the new season as “wooden” and “horrendous”.
Lara, a 21-year-old idol, is known for being vocal and engaged with internet culture. Fans argued that, as someone who is often described as “chronically online,” she should have been aware of the longstanding and heated debates surrounding Schnapp. Fans called her comment insensitive, saying that praising any aspect of Schnapp’s work is similar to endorsing his views.
After the massive backlash, Lara addressed the controversy, saying, “Oh hell nah guys, I am just a fan of the show!,” adding, “I was not aware about any of the actors’ backgrounds or stances.”
She further said, “I was not sharing my support for anything but the show, do not get it twisted.”
Meanwhile, KATSEYE is currently on their North American tour, The Beautiful Chaos, which began last month.