Lara Raj of KATSEYE denounces harmful AI deepfake video

Lara Raj, a member of the global girl group KATSEYE, has denounced a “disgusting” AI-generated deepfake video that falsely depicts her using a racial slur. In a message shared via Weverse, the 20-year-old singer expressed that the fabrication “genuinely breaks my heart” and criticized the creators for attempting to manufacture a harmful narrative.

Raj emphasized the emotional impact of such technology on young artists, stating, “People often forget we are human beings with feelings, in our teens and early 20s and are not made of steel. Doing things like this can truly be so harmful.” She thanked her fans, known as EYEKONS, for their support and encouraged the community to continue spreading kindness.

The deepfake video reportedly utilized a podcast interview setting to spread misinformation. Despite the ongoing hiatuses of group members Manon Bannerman and Sophia Laforteza, the remaining members are scheduled to make their Saturday Night Live debut on September 26, 2026, before continuing the WILDWORLD Tour in North America.