Katseye is temporarily losing another group member nearly six months after Manon Bannerman went on a hiatus.
“It truly breaks my heart to have to miss out on a lot,” Sophia Laforteza wrote via her Instagram Stories on Friday, August 7, while announcing her decision to take a break from Katseye. “You know how much I love being on stage, performing, and sharing these moments with you.”
Laforteza, 23, alluded to health issues playing a role in her decision to take a step back from the limelight.
“Making this decision wasn’t easy, but I’m learning that health has to come first,” she continued. “I’m realizing that if I don’t take care of my mind and body now, I won’t be able to keep doing what I love the most for so long.”
The singer concluded, “Thank you for being so patient, understanding, and always showing me so much love. It means more to me than I could ever say. I promise I’m going to work as hard as I can to get through this, heal properly, and come back stronger. ‘Til then, please continue to be kind and give KATSEYE all your love and support as we fulfill our promise to show up for you in every way we can. I’ll be here as one of the EYEKONS in the meantime with y’all, See you soon.”
Laforteza has served as Katseye’s leader since the band formed through the reality survival show The Debut: Dream Academy under HYBE and Geffen Records in 2023.
Laforteza’s decision to step back from Katseye comes after Bannerman, 24, announced her own hiatus from the group 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 wellbeing,” a statement from the band read on the social media platform Weverse. “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.”
In her own statement, Bannerman reassured fans that she was OK.
“Hi friends,” she wrote via Weverse. “I want you to hear this from me, I’m healthy, I’m OK and I’m taking care of myself. Thank u for checking in! Sometimes things unfold in ways we don’t fully control, but I’m trusting the bigger picture. Thank you for standing by me. I love you endlessly and can’t wait to see you again.”
A source later told Us in April that Bannerman was not planning to return to Katseye after fans noticed she removed the group name from her Instagram bio. (Us reached out to the singer and a rep for Katseye for comment at the time.)
Katseye — which also consists of Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel and Yoonchae Jeung — addressed Bannerman’s exit in June, revealing that the “door is always open” for her to return.
“Because we did announce that it is about her well-being, it’s not our place or anybody else’s place to rush her,” Laforteza told Allure. “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.”
