KATSEYE’s Lara criticized after Stranger Things comment involving Noah Schnapp sparks outrage

KATSEYE’s Lara faces backlash after praising a Stranger Things character linked to Noah Schnapp’s Gaza controversy

 

KATSEYE member Lara is facing significant backlash after comments made during a November 29 Weverse livestream ignited controversy across Korean and international fan communities.

The HYBE idol casually discussed Stranger Things during the broadcast and remarked that the character Will “looks so hot in that last scene.” While the comment appeared harmless at first, the reaction online quickly turned hostile due to rising anger toward actor Noah Schnapp, whose stance on the ongoing Gaza genocide has drawn global criticism.

Fans pointed out that Lara, often described as “chronically online,” should have been aware of the widespread backlash surrounding Schnapp. Many argued that her comment felt insensitive, especially as Schnapp remains at the center of heated debates regarding his public statements about Gaza. The clip of Lara’s remark circulated rapidly on X and Reddit, gathering thousands of critical responses within hours.

wait so why would u say this as a katseye stan… with lara sitting over here watching stranger things and calling mr zionism is sexy of all chops “hot”

— y (@crushblogg) December 1, 2025

Found out why Lara is getting dragged and it’s cause she said Will Buyers looked hot in stranger things. I hope stan twt burns to the ground y’all so fucking unserious

— ⚜️мнуѕα σƒ ∂яαgσηѕ⁷⚜️ (@Queensleyy) December 1, 2025

You know what this actually is? Her having 0 personality. She just parrots things she sees online https://t.co/KDS50w3jXG

— ⊹.✶Ꮺ (@n0tfreed) December 1, 2025

idk which is worse praising zionist actor or thirsting over minor character https://t.co/5JPtnJIkxM

— sav (@ladydiorz) December 1, 2025

I go to sleep and wake up to a member of Katseye getting cancelled What is going on omg 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/VFUyAxdbg8 https://t.co/cqZjrSXIE4

— Tynon’s Alter Ego🐅⁶ (@manon_meret127) December 1, 2025

This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of idols’ public behavior, especially when tied to politically charged global issues. K-pop fans have become increasingly vocal about the social awareness of artists, and Lara’s livestream quickly became another flashpoint in that conversation.

The backlash mirrors recent criticism directed at other major K-pop stars, including BTS’s Jimin, whose military anecdote about not showering for five days sparked discussions on the harsh conditions of South Korean enlistment. Likewise, BLACKPINK’s Rosé recently faced viral “lazy dancing” allegations after a short concert clip circulated on TikTok.

As discourse around idols’ conduct continues to intensify, Lara’s comment underscores the growing expectation for global artists to remain aware of politically sensitive topics — even during casual livestream moments. At the time of writing, neither HYBE nor Lara has issued a public statement.