The Launch of PRELUDE & Public Reception:
On Aug. 25, 2025, an Instagram account with the username “@prelude_thefinalpiece” posted a photo of Emily Kelavos, one of the finalists from Dream Academy, with the caption: “PRELUDE: The Final Piece… member reveal #1: Emily Kelavos” with the hashtags: “#HYBE, #GEFFEN #ABEMA”.
The account is unverified, but Popstar Academy contestant Brooklyn Van Zandt, as well as KATSEYE members Megan Skiendiel and Lara Raj commented their congratulations under the post. The photos also garnered over 100,000 likes, suggesting that the account isn’t baiting fans; it’s truly run by HYBE or Geffen staff and that PRELUDE is really happening.
Two days later, the account posted yet another photo, a photo of Swedish Dream Academy contestant Lexie Levin. Levin wasn’t a finalist in the program. Not even close. In fact, she was just about the farthest from being a finalist out of all twenty contestants.
Levin did something that no one else dared to do; after nearly two years of training and seven weeks on the survival show, Levin willingly left the trainee program–despite placing relatively high in fan votes in the most recent ranking–a month before the finale.
Levin explained that she felt the environment of the program was toxic, stressful, and damaging. She said she just couldn’t take the pressure of training anymore, and believed that the girls were being mistreated and exploited for viewer entertainment.
So when fans opened Instagram to see Levin as the face of the new HYBE x Geffen girl group, emotions varied in the comment section. The public’s reaction was mostly positive–many fans were thrilled at the prospect of seeing other Dream Academy contestants finally debuting. Some were unsatisfied with the group lineup so far, requesting different finalists and Dream Academy contestants that hadn’t yet been announced as part of the group. Some were shocked–even irritated–at Levin’s sudden change of heart.
But the real controversy was not because of Levin, the third PRELUDE member. It was not because of Kelavos, the first PRELUDE member. All it took was one click to post the announcement of the second PRELUDE member for everything to go south.
On Aug. 26, Instagram comments switched from: “I already know this group will be fire” and “So iconic, love this diva” to “Get her out” and “We don’t want her” and even “Sorry guys you just ruined the success of this group”.
Who could possibly evoke this reaction from the public? 20-year-old Brazilian singer and Dream Academy finalist Samara Siqueira.
Siqueira, despite being an Afro-Latina herself, has been facing accusations of racism in the years since Dream Academy. Fans have noticed that Siqueira has reposted multiple racist and discriminatory TikTok posts against the Indian community. This was especially shocking considering that Siqueira trained for years with Lara Raj, KATSEYE member–and Siqueira’s so-called best friend at the time–who publicly embraces her Indian heritage and serves as an inspiration for South Asian fans all over the world. She proudly wears a bindi and an Om necklace and openly incorporates her racial identity into her career and presence as an artist.
Many fans were not only outraged at Siqueira’s racist reposts, but confused as to why someone would support the mocking of such a large piece of their best friend’s identity. Siqueira’s controversy not only diminished the public opinion of the band’s member lineup, but also had viewers questioning if the formation of the group was even a good idea in the first place.
“Sorry, but it’s giving KATSEYE leftovers,” one Instagram commenter said.
“Fans didn’t vote them into KATSEYE for a reason,” another said. “Why would we want them now?”
“Yeah, this group is cooked,” another commenter said. “I can feel their downfall coming and they haven’t even debuted yet.”
Not only do I agree, but I’d even take this notion a step further. PRELUDE will be a disaster, and that’s exactly what HYBE wants.
The lineup and timing of this group was no coincidence. Their debut was announced at the height of KATSEYE’s career, a few days after their viral GAP campaign was released, and not even a month after they performed at Lollapalooza.
Ezrela Abraham, another Dream Academy finalist, ranked higher than Kelavos in fan votes. Yet, HYBE didn’t choose Abraham for the group. Why? Because Kelavos was a trainee involved in outrage from viewers who believed Manon Bannerman, KATSEYE member, “robbed” her of her spot in KATSEYE.
Levin didn’t even make it to the finale, but HYBE still selected her. Why? Because they knew Levin’s departure and return to the agency would stir up the most drama among fans.
Siqueira had been actively “canceled” and drowning in controversy for years by the time PRELUDE was announced, but HYBE still opted for her over less problematic finalists like Abraham or Marquise Auramonrat. Why? Because they knew in advance the outrage that would follow her announcement. They could sense the articles, headlines, online posts, backlash; they could sense the press. And, to a cooperation that is essentially a K-pop monopoly, any press is good press.
