Yoonchae Jeong, Megan Skiendiel, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Sophia Laforteza and Daniela Avanzini of KATSEYE at the 68th GRAMMY Awards held at the Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. Gilbert Flores/Billboard
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KATSEYE has once again addressed Manon’s ongoing hiatus, sharing with Allure that the best thing the members and EYEKONS can do right now is avoid making “assumptions” about when she may or may not return.
In the cover story published Thursday (June 25), Sophia served as spokesperson for the group — which is also comprised of Megan, Lara, Yoonchae and Daniela — when it came to questions about their missing bandmate. In February, HYBE broke the news that Manon was stepping away from KATSEYE to “focus on her health.”
“Because we did announce that it is about her well-being, it’s not our place or anybody else’s place to rush her,” the Filipino performer began. “We want to give her all the time that she needs, all the space that she needs, and so we don’t want to make any assumptions, set anything in stone … She really deserves that, and the door is always open.”
Sophia also acknowledged that she and her groupmates empathize with fans who want more information on when Manon may rejoin KATSEYE. After four months without her, many EYEKONS have also speculated online that she never will.
“The people love her,” she added. “They love KATSEYE. If I was in their place, I would be asking, too, and so we understand. But what we can say is that we wish that you could just keep extending love and support and patience and all those things, because all of us deserve that. Anybody does.”
After forming on HYBE’s “Dream Academy” series — which Netflix captured in its Pop Star Academy documentary — KATSEYE debuted in 2024. The group is currently gearing up to release its Wild EP, led by Billboard Hot 100 No. 28 single “Pinky Up,” but Manon has not been a part of the project’s rollout since taking her leave of absence in February.
“After open and thoughtful conversations together, we are sharing that Manon will be taking a temporary hiatus from group activities to focus on her health and well-being,” HYBE wrote at the time. “We fully support this decision. KATSEYE remains committed to showing up for one another and for the fans who mean everything to us. The group will continue scheduled activities during this time, and we look forward to being together again when the time is right.”
See KATSEYE on the cover of Allure below.
