What started as perhaps a run-of-the-mill corporate statement about KATSEYE's Manon taking a hiatus from group activities has turned into a PR disaster for HYBE x Geffen. In the days following the announcement, there's been a flurry of "read between the lines" speculation that's flooded the internet as fans try to make sense of what might be going on behind the scenes. Adding fuel to the fire, gossip accounts have resurfaced old claims of potential mistreatment and racism against Manon.
There’s no way we couldn’t talk about this.
To help us break it down for you, we invited Natasha Mulenga, an entertainment journalist who has covered K-pop extensively. She's also the author of the book “More Idols of K-pop: The definitive guide to the hottest bands,” and host of the podcast, A Soulful Storm.
Tune in to hear:
What a "hiatus" usually means in K-pop
The disconnect in official statements
Our thoughts on Daniela's dad chiming in
Manon alluding to mistreatment by liking a video
The Cut cover story on KATSEYE
The painful history of the racist "lazy" trope for Black people
Fans' toxic behavior regarding race and Manon
Cultural differences toward work in Europe, America and South Korea
The immense pressure of K-pop idols' schedules
Speculation and fan theories that have caught our attention
How we think KATSEYE can move forward
It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.
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