{"id":308188,"date":"2026-02-24T19:19:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T19:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/308188\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T19:19:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T19:19:10","slug":"manon-is-taking-a-hiatus-from-katseye-what-does-that-mean-for-the-groups-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/308188\/","title":{"rendered":"Manon Is Taking a Hiatus From KATSEYE. What Does That Mean for the Group\u2019s Future?"},"content":{"rendered":"

ETIENNE LAURENT\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Ever since KATSEYE was formed on The Debut: Dream Academy<\/a> in 2023, the group has promoted itself as a six-piece unit<\/a>. It was recently announced, however, that member Manon Bannerman will be taking a \u201ctemporary hiatus\u201d from the group to \u201cfocus on her health and wellbeing.\u201d This news has taken aback many fans and ignited discourse online.<\/p>\n

KATSEYE has had to promote itself as a five-member group sporadically, but this marks the first time a member has gone on an official hiatus. \u201cDespite having some interviews or performances with a missing member, what\u2019s important is that at the end of the day, we\u2019re still going to be six as KATSEYE,\u201d leader Sophia Laforteza told Billboard<\/a> in 2025, adding that \u201cit\u2019s forever going to be that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, why the need for a formal hiatus this time? If you are among the many who are confused about the unfolding situation, here\u2019s a breakdown of everything that has happened since Manon\u2019s hiatus was announced\u2014including the star\u2019s own response.<\/p>\n

February 20: Manon’s hiatus is announced\"<h1<\/p>\n

Emma McIntyre\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

News of Manon\u2019s hiatus broke on February 20, with a joint statement from HYBE and Geffen (the labels signed as \u201cHxG\u201d) that was posted on KATSEYE\u2019s accounts on Weverse<\/a> and X<\/a>, announcing that after careful consideration, Manon would be going on a \u201ctemporary hiatus.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter 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,\u201d the statement began. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The statement concluded with a thank-you message addressed to EYEKONS, the nickname for KATSEYE fans, for their \u201ccontinued love, patience, and understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

HYBE and Geffen’s statement did not share a timeline for Manon’s return. Notably, KATSEYE\u2019s next scheduled major performance is at Lollapalooza Argentina on March 13. The group has a stream of festival appearances from March to August, including their long-anticipated Coachella<\/a> debut in April.<\/p>\n

Feb. 20: Manon issues her own statement\"<h1<\/p>\n

Gilbert Flores\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Shortly after HYBE and Geffen released the statement that broke the news of Manon\u2019s hiatus, the star took to Weverse to address fans directly. She released her own brief statement on the situation via Weverse DMs, a paid subscription service.<\/p>\n

Screenshots<\/a> circulating online show a message from Manon\u2019s personal Weverse profile name, Peanutbutterlover02, reading: \u201cHi friends. \ud83e\udd0d I want you to hear this from me, I\u2019m healthy, I\u2019m okay, and I\u2019m taking care of myself. Thank u for checking in! Sometimes things unfold in ways we don\u2019t fully control, but I\u2019m trusting the bigger picture. Thank you for standing by me. I love you endlessly and can\u2019t wait to see you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feb. 22 onward: Discourse intensifies online, and past comments from Manon resurface\"<h1<\/p>\n

NBC\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Since the whole situation began to unfold, fans have taken to social media to demand more information and transparency regarding Manon\u2019s temporary departure. Hashtags such as #ForeverWithManon, #EYEKONSLoveManon, and #GetWellSoonManon are being used on social media to show support for the star. Other fans are also vocally sharing the sentiment that \u201cKATSEYE is six,\u201d expressing their hope that the hiatus doesn’t become permanent.<\/p>\n

This is not the first time fans have speculated about Manon\u2019s departure from the group. Last summer, speculation was rampant, and Manon addressed it herself, also via Weverse DMs. \u201cNot going anywhere?? In the studio rehearsing as i\u2019m typing this… kisses!\u201d Manon reportedly wrote<\/a> at the time.<\/p>\n

This time around, fan speculation has been exacerbated by screenshots<\/a> that appear<\/a> to show Manon liking an Instagram post<\/a> from creator Simone Umba, who used Manon\u2019s hiatus to analyze a \u201ctrope\u201d she calls \u201cthe lone Black girl in girl groups,\u201d mentioning Normani from Fifth Harmony and Leigh-Anne Pinnock from Little Mix and the groups\u2019 respective hiatuses<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the time of this writing, Manon\u2019s like on the post is nowhere to be found, so it\u2019s hard to confirm the veracity of the screenshots. But the post does have support from plenty of others, including commenter Sairah Pinnock, who is Leigh-Anne\u2019s manager and sister.<\/p>\n

In a June 2020 Instagram video, which has since been deleted, Leigh-Anne addressed the added pressure and reality of being the only Black member in her group, according to Billboard<\/a>. \u201cMy reality is constantly feeling like I have to work 10 times harder and longer to mark my place in the group because my talent alone isn\u2019t enough,” she said at the time. Little Mix went on an indefinite hiatus in 2022.<\/p>\n

Her sentiments echo those expressed by Manon in an interview with The Cut<\/a> earlier this month, in which she addressed accusations that she was \u201clazy\u201d during Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, which chronicled the creation of the group on The Debut: Dream Academy<\/a>. \u201cBeing called lazy, especially as a Black girl, is not fair,” Manon said. “Now I feel like I always need to put in extra work to prove something, even though I really don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the same interview, Manon also shared very poignant thoughts about KATSEYE members working on solo projects down the line: \u201cWhen One Direction split, that was really hard. I don\u2019t want our fans to go through that. I don\u2019t want to be responsible for breaking so many hearts,” she said, adding later that \u201cKATSEYE is going to stay KATSEYE for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

KATSEYE\u2019s last public appearance before the hiatus was on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on February 4, following their performance<\/a> at the 2026 Grammys, where they were nominated<\/a> for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo\/Group Performance. Manon’s latest Instagram post, dated February 13, promotes KATSEYE’s smoothie collab with Erewhon. She still has KATSEYE in her Instagram bio as of this writing.<\/p>\n

Teen Vogue has reached out to HYBE and Geffen for further comment but did not immediately hear back. This piece will continue to be updated as news about Manon\u2019s hiatus breaks.<\/p>\n

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue<\/a><\/p>\n

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