Popular Idol Hits Back At “Lazy And Selfish” Accusations, Met With Mixed Reactions

Though KATSEYE was formed on the survival show Dream Academy, a reality show titled Pop Star Academy that offered a behind-the-scenes look at the group’s formation gave a better sense of the members’ personalities and backgrounds.

KATSEYE | HYBE

This was both good and bad in different ways, including perceptions it fostered among viewers of the idols. One of these was the idea that Manon was “lazy” and “selfish,” “shown” in moments where she missed practice or other events.

KATSEYE’s Manon | HYBE

Now, she has addressed the allegations directly in a new interview.

KATSEYE were recently featured in The Cut.

KATSEYE’s New Sexy And Revealing Photoshoot Sparks Major Shock

During the photoshoot, the group was interviewed while having lunch. When Manon arrived a bit after the others, she said she gets sick all the time.

The article then hit on the Pop Star Academy-related allegations, mentioning that she had a reputation, which Manon explained was connected to the work-life balance difference.

America has a very different culture when it comes to work-life balance. You guys are all about grind and hustle. In Switzerland, if you’re sick, you take a day off. No one’s going to expect you to work.

— Manon

She also added that being called lazy as a Black woman was not fair.

Being called lazy, especially as a Black girl, is not fair. Now I feel like I always need to put in extra work to prove something, even though I really don’t.

— Manon

This was shared online, where netizens chimed in their thoughts. Some felt she used her ethnicity as an excuse and were critical of her statements.

Girl it has nothing to do with being black theres always a weak dancer in groups and it just happened to be u 🤷‍♀️ https://t.co/XWBWIzdIwo

— ່ (@poetastros) February 17, 2026

oh brother. people think youre lazy based off of what we all saw and what your own peers said about you. maybe if you stopped forgetting choreo and missing performances people's minds would change. no one cares about what you say, only your actions. https://t.co/LdXdUsnN6B

— Isa (@Layibaht) February 17, 2026

using the race card to victimize yourself like their isn’t a valid reason they call her lazy idk manon maybe stop missing shows and start showing up for katseye https://t.co/Ca7mgyius5

— 🕸️ (@c0rtiseye) February 17, 2026

On the other hand, many defended Manon, finding truth in her statement and discussing the work she did put in as someone with no singing or dancing experience.

when you think about it the hate makes no sense manon joined that competition with no singing or dancing experience but was eating up the missions & improving each time. if she wasn’t putting in the work, how would that even be possible? you don’t learn full kpop choreo overnight https://t.co/6eGRqzWog4

— taylor ❦ (@manonsarchives) February 17, 2026

Reality is for black celebrities they are all working 10x harder to be valued to the public eye just to still be labeled as unworthy.. then you see other non blacl artists produce similar work and get the most praise for it. https://t.co/PXJ9e0UeB7

— jammy ✶ #48 🍀 (@aeKATer) February 17, 2026

You’ll NEVER convince me that Manon is lazy. She worked her ass off and earned her spot. “She’s pulling the race card” for rightly calling out the higher standard that black women are constantly held to? Aggressive, Loud, Angry, Lazy. Words historically used to villainize black… https://t.co/1ZRAPOIzQS

— ✰ 𝓢𝔂𝓭 ✰ (@FRUITXSNACK) February 17, 2026