HYBE Girl Group Member’s Sudden Exit Reignites Accusations Surrounding KATSEYE’s Manon

On July 14, KST, the upcoming HYBE global girl group SAINT SATINE made an official announcement that one of its members, Lexie, had decided to leave the group and the company.

Notably, the group has not even made its debut, but all the members are well-known to the public since three of them were participants on The Debut: Dream Academy, the survival show that created KATSEYE. The final member of SAINT SATINE was also selected through another survival show, World Scout: The Final Piece.

Lexie’s sudden exit has been met with wide support from netizens, with many speculating that she was disappointed with the direction SAINT SATINE was possibly taking. Many joked that she “played in HYBE’s face” twice, since she had left Dream Academy midway as well.

She damn played in their faces twice….walk em like a dog sis

— ꪆৎ:˚˖𓍢ִ໋Katiramisu ꪆৎ:˚˖𓍢ִ໋ (@StellaM35453) July 14, 2026

lexie leaving 2 groups formed by hxg in the span of 2 years… she really don’t gaf 😭

— ໊ (@clubpantheress) July 13, 2026

However, this situation has also brought up comparisons with the response to KATSEYE member Manon‘s sudden hiatus. Many fans raised the concern that Manon was facing racial microaggressions from some netizens, being called lazy or problematic. They questioned why Lexie is being given the benefit of the doubt when the truth about her situation is just as unclear as Manon’s.

Lexi leaves Saint Satine and the response is hope she’s okay and wish her the best Manon went on hiatus and people instantly called her lazy, selfish, and not a team player before knowing the full story two members step away from their groups. Two completely different reactions pic.twitter.com/Euzg4X5qcL

— Jaden (@jadenuwii8) July 13, 2026

#noticing when its a white girl she’s a queen and iconic and when its a black girl she’s lazy and unprofessional? mkay.

MIND YOU. manon is on a FORCED HIATUS while lexie WILLINGLY BAILED TWICE. yet manon is the one with no work ethic…. righttt….. pic.twitter.com/LACjaBy5qP

— kai ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ (@meiyokscherryy) July 14, 2026

it’s okay for lexie to quit twice but manon is called lazy and uncommitted… pic.twitter.com/8K0qrrtIKI

— asia🎀 | OT6 katseye (@okaysoasia) July 14, 2026

The difference lol pic.twitter.com/fXps0AG6sr

— Jaden (@jadenuwii8) July 14, 2026

pic.twitter.com/CZ5elc18ht

— BLACKMAMBA (@THEOGBLACKMAMBA) July 14, 2026

Some also questioned why HYBE X Geffen was willing to let Lexie walk away, despite her possibly being under contract, while refusing to set Manon free.

is lexie some kind of god-tier nepo baby… how is hxg letting her drop out and get away with it twice? but manon can’t miss a practice or two without becoming a storyline and then forced to go on hiatus..? pic.twitter.com/CQrM118hKC

— ʚїɞ (@kkotism) July 13, 2026

notice how they’re willing to let the white girl go even tho she was probably under contract but manon who’s facing racism and mistreatments is stuck in her contract and they won’t let her go and everyone is happy for lexie while manon is called a liar and all sorts of slurs

— blue #19 🇪🇸 (@jkmanonz) July 13, 2026

The fact that Lexie can quit twice with no consequences & will never be villainized. But with Manon, she is forced into a hiatus, will likely be portrayed in the film as the problem & blamed for her exit while her mistreatment is ignored. Showing a clear double standard in how…

— krystal (@SquirtleMobCapt) July 13, 2026

However, some also pushed back against these accusations, claiming that Manon and Lexie’s situations were entirely different.

I want yall to like stop doing this because it only makes it worse for Manon & it’s unnecessary hate towards Lexie. We already know it’s about race when it comes to Manon but we also shouldn’t use her situation as a get back or a “See the difference” moment. That’s very insane

— ᘻᘿ sᴏ ˢᵒᵘᵖ 🇯🇵 (@JAPANESEBLACK) July 13, 2026

the difference is that lexie didn’t wait until after the group’s debut to start skipping everything, slowing the group down, and then dragging all the girls into drama like manon did.

— ִֶָ (@anittaandcharts) July 14, 2026

Bringing race into the conversation does nothing. Lexie missed rehearsal bc she was done and immediately left. Yes people have been too hard on Manon but she also consistently missed rehearsals and didnt even know choreo on the beautiful chaos tour. This too woke shit has to end

— jugz (@jugz666) July 14, 2026

Meanwhile, after her exit, Lexie is facing accusations of being a “bully” yet again.

HYBE Idol Slammed For Being A “Bully” And “Selfish” After Shock Move