KATSEYE leader Sophia Laforteza takes mental health hiatus, second member to step back

Sophia Laforteza announces temporary hiatus

Sophia Laforteza, the 23-year-old leader of the multinational girl group KATSEYE, announced on August 7 that she is temporarily stepping away from promotional activities to focus on her mental health and wellness. The announcement was made in a joint statement from Hybe and Geffen Records posted on the fan platform Weverse. The labels said Laforteza has been consulting medical professionals who advised "dedicated time for extended rest and ongoing care to ensure a full recovery." Her condition will be reassessed in September, with further updates promised at that time. The labels also noted that "the health, safety, and long-term well-being of our artists will always remain our highest priority."

Laforteza addressed fans directly on her Instagram Story, expressing her heartbreak over the decision.

It truly breaks my heart to have to miss out on a lot. You know how much I love being on stage, performing, and sharing these moments with you. Making this decision wasn't easy, but I'm learning that health has to come first. 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.

She thanked fans for being "so patient, understanding and always showing me so much love" and promised to "work as hard as I can to get through this, heal properly, and come back stronger."

Second member to step back

Laforteza is the second KATSEYE member to take a temporary hiatus for mental health reasons. Manon Bannerman, the 23-year-old Swiss member, announced her own break on February 20. Bannerman told fans at the time that she was "healthy" and "taking care of myself," adding, "Sometimes things unfold in ways we don't fully control, but I'm trusting the bigger picture." Six months later, Bannerman has not returned, and the label has not provided an update on her return date. In April, Bannerman said she had been having "positive conversations" with Hybe and felt supported, though she also removed "Katseye" from her Instagram bio around that time.

The group will continue with four members: Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, and Yoonchae Jeung. BBC reported that the group's members have received multiple online death threats since their debut.

Timing amid a packed schedule

The hiatus announcement comes during a busy period for KATSEYE. Laforteza was absent from the Los Angeles premiere of the group's documentary "KATSEYE: Wild Hearts" on Wednesday, where Lara Raj told Variety, "She's not feeling well, but she says hi." The worldwide premiere is set for August 12, the same day the four-member version of the group is scheduled to make its late-night debut on The Tonight Show. The group's third EP, "Wild," is due August 14 (August 13 per Variety), featuring singles "Pinky Up," which debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Animal," which entered the chart at No. 24.

KATSEYE is also scheduled to perform at the Head in the Clouds festival in Pasadena on August 8 and has a world tour planned for this fall, including a September 11 concert at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. Whether Laforteza and Bannerman will participate in the tour is not known.

Group background and recognition

KATSEYE is a Los Angeles-based multinational pop group formed in 2023 from the Hybe and Geffen survival-style competition "The Debut: Dream Academy." The six members come from the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States, combining K-pop's training model with Western pop influences. The group gained attention with singles including "Touch," "Gnarly," and "Gabriela," the latter earning a Grammy nomination. The group was nominated for two Grammy Awards last year and was featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary "Pop Star Academy: Katseye." Fans are known as EYEKONS.