KATSEYE made their Saturday Night Live debut on September 26. They were the musical guest for the season 52 premiere, hosted by New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson.
They performed two songs from their EP Wild: "Animal" and "Hootie Frutti."
Watch KATSEYE Perform "Hootie Frutti" on SNL
KATSEYE performs "Hootie Frutti" live on Saturday Night Live.
KATSEYE's "Hootie Frutti" SNL Performance: The Recap
"Hootie Frutti" was the more playful of the two songs. Where "Animal" was glossy and polished, this one was all about fun, big dance moves.
- The song: "Hootie Frutti" is track 3 on Wild, which came out August 14, 2026.
- The moves: nonstop, high-energy choreography, the thing KATSEYE is best known for.
- The other song: Earlier in the night they did "Animal," the single Ed Sheeran co-wrote. (More: KATSEYE's "Wild" EP and the Ed Sheeran song.)
Why Only 4 KATSEYE Members Were on SNL
4 of the 6 members performed: Daniela, Lara, Megan and Yoonchae. Manon and Sophia are taking a break to focus on their mental health. Manon stepped back in February 2026 and Sophia in August, and the group says both breaks are temporary.
What Does "Hootie Frutti" Mean?
There's no dictionary meaning. It's a made-up phrase, and here's the idea behind it:
- It's a play on "tutti frutti," the old phrase for a mix of fruit flavors.
- Fruit is the joke. The song uses fruit as a flirty way of saying someone is hot.
- It has a Brazilian sound. It's a Brazilian funk track, and it opens with a line in Portuguese: "I know you like the fruit, but this one is different."
You'll also see it searched as "Hottie Frutti," but the real title is "Hootie Frutti."
Watch KATSEYE's Dream Academy Sketch on SNL
KATSEYE also starred in a comedy sketch that made fun of Dream Academy, the reality show where the group was formed.
KATSEYE and Jalen Brunson in the "Dream Academy" sketch on SNL.
- KATSEYE were the judges. This time they rated a new batch of very chaotic contestants.
- Brunson played the dance coach. He was "Dorian Fylnt," a very demanding choreographer.
- The big joke: two contestants only got in because they saw a music boss commit a hit-and-run. Their audition song was called "Newton's Cradle."
KATSEYE and Jalen Brunson: Knicks Night at SNL
Before the show, SNL put out a short promo with Brunson and KATSEYE:
Jalen Brunson and KATSEYE are locked in for SNL's season 52 premiere.
It was a New York night from start to finish.
- Brunson hosted. He's only the 5th NBA player to host SNL, and the first active player since LeBron James in 2007.
- The Knicks showed up. Teammates Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart joined him on stage during his opening speech.
- He was in KATSEYE's sketch. He played the dance coach in the Dream Academy parody above.
- They matched at the end. At the end of the show, KATSEYE stood next to Brunson wearing Knicks gear from Nike's new NBA Standard Issue Collection, plus New York City hats.
KATSEYE's Knicks Jersey: How to Get the Look
The Knicks pieces are from Nike's NBA Standard Issue Collection, which came out September 15. The jersey and shorts cost $70 each on Nike.com and NBAStore.com. More pieces drop October 12 at Nike, Fanatics, Foot Locker and DICK'S.
How KATSEYE Went From Reality Show to SNL
Just 3 years ago, KATSEYE didn't exist. Here's how they got to SNL:
- 2023: They were picked on a reality show. Dream Academy, from K-pop company HYBE and Geffen Records, chose 6 girls from all over the world.
- 2024: They debuted. Their first songs came out, and Netflix aired a show about them called Pop Star Academy.
- 2025: They went viral. "Gnarly" blew up on TikTok. "Gabriela" reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their Gap denim ad got 400 million views in 3 days.
- 2026: They went mainstream. They got 2 Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist, and played Coachella. Then Wild became their first #1 album on the Billboard 200, and "Animal" reached #24 on the Hot 100.
- Now: they're touring arenas on the WILDWORLD tour, and they just made their debut on the biggest comedy show on TV.
In short, they went from a reality show to SNL in about 3 years. (More: their documentary "Wild Hearts".)
Want to feel the beat? Play "Hootie Frutti" in the free VibeSynced visualizer.
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