KATSEYE emerges as humble, genuine artists who remain starstruck by music icons — proving they're relatable newcomers who haven't forgotten where they came from.
Sources say Laforteza's emotional reaction was reportedly so intense that her bandmates had to physically intervene backstage before she could even speak to Grande directly.
The encounter happened at the 2025 MTV VMAs, where Sophia Laforteza 'actually started crying' and revealed she was shaking so badly her KATSEYE members needed to calm her down. At this year's Grammys, Tyler, The Creator complimented their performance backstage.
KATSEYE may be making waves in the industry, but behind closed doors they're still starstruck fans — and honestly? That vulnerability is exactly what makes them compelling.
Well, well, well. Turns out even rising pop stars aren't immune to a good old-fashioned celebrity encounter meltdown. In the newest episode of Instagram's original series Close Friends Only, KATSEYE sat down with their friend YouTuber Larray at a fully equipped music studio — complete with every instrument imaginable — and got surprisingly real about some of their most memorable moments rubbing shoulders with music's biggest names.
But one story absolutely stole the show. Sophia Laforteza confessed that meeting Ariana Grande at the 2025 MTV VMAs hit her so hard she literally broke down in tears. "I actually started crying," Laforteza admitted, before clarifying: "And I don't cry." But it got even more intense — she revealed she was shaking so violently during the encounter that her fellow KATSEYE members had to step in and help calm her down before she could even compose herself enough to speak.
Grande, for her part, apparently lived up to every positive expectation: "You know that whole thing where you're like, 'Don't meet your idols'? But then I did meet my idol and she just made me feel so seen." That's the kind of validation that hits different when it's coming from a pop icon who's been in the industry trenches herself. Grande isn't the only A-list artist who left a lasting impression on KATSEYE, though.
The group also crossed paths with Tyler, The Creator at this year's Grammys — and unlike some backstage encounters that feel performative, this one came straight from the notoriously elusive artist's own dressing room. "Dude, Tyler, The Creator told us that we were good," said Lara Raj, still processing the moment. "We were walking in backstage, he came out of his dressing room.
He was like, 'You guys did so good.'" Laforteza added the crucial detail: "He went out of his way." For anyone familiar with Tyler's reputation for avoiding unnecessary industry small talk, that gesture carries serious weight. Beyond reliving these encounters, KATSEYE also used the Close Friends Only episode to reveal their ultimate dream collaborators — and the wishlist is eclectic, to say the least. Daniela Avanzini has her eyes on Bad Bunny ("because he's just fire"), plus confirmed Tyler as someone she knows would be a perfect fit.
Raj named Pharrell Williams and Thundercat as her targets, while Laforteza doubled down on Ariana Grande and added Mother Monster herself, Lady Gaga. Megan Skiendiel threw Benny Blanco into the mix as a wildcard option. The group is currently building momentum toward their upcoming EP "WILD" — which drops at a moment when KATSEYE clearly has the industry's attention in a major way. Between VMAs breakdowns and Grammys validation from Tyler, The Creator, this girl group is collecting encounters that will make for incredible career full-circle moments if any of these dream collabs actually materialize.
