What started as perhaps a run-of-the-mill corporate statement about KATSEYE's Manon taking a hiatus from group activities has turned into a PR disaster for HYBE x Geffen. In the days following the announcement, there's been a flurry of "read between the lines" speculation that's flooded the internet as fans try to make sense of what might be going on behind the scenes. Adding fuel to the fire, gossip accounts have resurfaced old claims of potential mistreatment and racism against Manon.

There’s no way we couldn’t talk about this. 

To help us break it down for you, we invited Natasha Mulenga, an entertainment journalist who has covered K-pop extensively. She's also the author of the book “More Idols of K-pop: The definitive guide to the hottest bands,” and host of the podcast, A Soulful Storm. 

Tune in to hear:

• What a "hiatus" usually means in K-pop
• The disconnect in official statements
• Our thoughts on Daniela's dad chiming in
• Manon alluding to mistreatment by liking a video
• The Cut cover story on KATSEYE
• The painful history of the racist "lazy" trope for Black people
• Fans' toxic behavior regarding race and Manon
• Cultural differences toward work in Europe, America and South Korea
• The immense pressure of K-pop idols' schedules
• Speculation and fan theories that have caught our attention
• How we think KATSEYE can move forward

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

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