The 2026 Grammy Awards was a dazzling night filled with stunning performances. Katseye, the six-member global girl group, graced the Grammy stage to perform their viral single “Gnarly,” which caused a heated online debate about changing standards in the industry.
Who is Katseye?
Katseye is a global girl group that started through the 2023 reality competition show Dream Academy, which saw 20 prospective artists vying for one of six spots within the group. Having debuted in June 2024 under a collaboration between HYBE, the Korean music powerhouse behind the group BTS, and Geffen Records, they soon became a viral sensation due to their diverse backgrounds, catchy songs, and viral dance trends sweeping TikTok and other platforms.
Their early singles—including “Debut” and “Touch”—made many believe that they were establishing themselves as more dream pop artists appealing to younger audiences. But that all changed in April of 2025 with the release of their second EP, Beautiful Chaos, and the feature of the hyperpop-leaning title track “Gnarly” that had a more mature feel and a strong public reaction across social media.
The popularity of this EP helped Katseye to debut on the Billboard Hot 100 and set off on a sold-out Beautiful Chaos Tour by the end of 2025. They were also confirmed for top festival lineups, including Coachella 2026, which is incredible considering that they have only been active as a group for two years, making their Grammy nominations not completely unexpected.
Backlash & Criticism
Katseye’s Grammy performance elicited a quick and harsh reaction.
Videos of their “Gnarly” performance spread rapidly over X (previously Twitter) and Reddit, with many viewers criticizing their vocal delivery. Some argued the live vocals were unstable and did not live up to the caliber of performances one would expect for the biggest night in music. Others went further, mocking the song itself, with some saying that it is one of their weaker songs and they should have picked something lyrically stronger and more appropriate.
However, many have come to the defense of Katseye, stating that this controversy only highlights the double standards in the industry and how girl groups, and female artists in general, are held to a completely different standard.
Industry Momentum and Artistic Development
The entire debate around Katseye’s performance presents the argument of virality and conventional artistic gatekeeping.
On one hand, Katseye encapsulates the reality of the music industry, where now songs are being made for social media trends as a way to catapult artists onto the worldwide stages faster than ever before.
However, this fast rise begs the question if craftsmanship and artistic depth will still be valued and elevated in the industry if a group with a relatively small repertoire was able to take the Grammy stage so early in their career and receive two Grammy nominations.
Still, it would be unfair to aim most of this criticism toward Katseye when the whole landscape of the industry is changing, with even the Grammys starting to place more emphasis on more general musical tastes and recognize performers who connect with younger audiences.
A Moment Bigger Than the Music
All in all, even though they did not take home any awards, Katseye still walked the red carpet, sang on television for millions to see, and started a major point in entertainment chatter, giving them more visibility and leaving their fans only excited to see where the rest of their career will take them.
