Girl-group Katseye’s latest album release has sparked a conversation online about the relentless sexualisation of young female artists. Fans have taken to socials to question who the new music video for Katseye’s track “Hootie Frutti” is actually for, given its sexually suggestive visuals.
Knowing that the demographic of Katseye’s fans ranges between age 14 to mid-20s, the sexual imagery and dancing seems off. Some members of Katseye are also barely legal. Yoonchae, the youngest, is only 18.
It’s not as though Katseye’s audience being young is an accident, either. Marketing for the girl-group has lent into the younger demographic, through collaborating with Gui Gui slime, featuring on Roblox, and making appearances at the Kids’ Choice Awards.
The sexualisation of female artists is almost treated like a right of passage that we’ve seen time and time again. From Britney Spears to Sabrina Carpenter, plenty of female artists lean into this at some point in their career.
It’s the intention behind Katseye’s sexualisation, and their apparent lack of control over their image, that makes music videos like “Hootie Frutti” so uncomfortable. Founded on the hit show ‘Dream Academy’ and now co-managed jointly by HYBE and Geffen Records under their joint venture, HxG, Katseye’s members don’t have total say on how they’re portrayed.
Female artists like Sabrina Carpenter sexualising themselves is one thing, but the sexualisation of young women by music execs for money is another. Who do you think Katseye’s new era is for, and who do you think is behind it? Because a lot of fans seem to believe it’s not the girls of Katseye who are pushing their new image.
