Katseye’s Lara Rajagopalan comes out

Fans are showering Lara Raj, a member of the Hybe girl group KATSEYE, with love and support after the 19-year-old came out as queer in March.

The idol reached out to fans via the platform Weverse and shared insights about her sexuality, which she had previously alluded to on social media. In a voice message posted on March 23, Lara confirmed her attraction to individuals of the same sex and discussed her struggles regarding it, according to ‘Parade’.

She expressed, through @weversekatseye on X, “I think also being a girl who likes girls is such a different experience because a lot of people don't think it's like a real thing. It's so bizarre. Or, on the other hand, people fetishize it, which is also super annoying.” Lara continued to connect with fans, encouraging them to be open by saying, “I get you guys because coming out can be really scary." She also noted that being Indian-American "adds another layer on to it.”

“I'm so grateful [for] people in my life, and you guys who have been so supportive, because I feel so proud of it, and like, no shame at all...I love that part of me,” she concluded.

Lara did not specify whether she identifies with a particular label. In another Weverse message, shared via Pop Base, she said, “I knew I was half fruitcake when I was like 8 so I really was wanting everybody,” which seems to indicate her attraction to multiple genders.

Members of KATSEYE’'s fandom, known as Eyekons, quickly expressed their support for Lara, with comments on X like, “having her in the music industry is everything 💖 queer woc on TOP,” and “Her openly talking about her sexuality is so special to me; she creates such a safe space for all of us .”

“Seeing an openly queer brown girl in the industry makes me so so so happy and seen ,” wrote another fan.

KATSEYE was formed through a competition program in collaboration with Hybe and Geffen Records and debuted in the summer of 2024 with their first single, ‘Debut.’ Hybe is also home to prominent K-pop groups like BTS, LE SSERAFIM, and Seventeen.

While KATSEYE is a global girl group, it maintains direct ties to the K-pop industry and has promoted their music internationally. Openly queer K-pop idols are quite rare, and such openness can negatively affect their careers, making Lara's candidness particularly noteworthy in the idol industry. At present, same-sex marriages and civil unions are not legally recognised in South Korea.