When KATSEYE revealed plans for a world tour last month, fans quickly noticed that one member was missing from the official promotional artwork.
The girl group, originally known as a six-member act, appeared as a five-piece following the surprising announcement that Manon Bannerman had taken a hiatus — a development that unsettled supporters who had viewed the group as especially close.
The shift was a stark contrast to a post Bannerman shared on Instagram in December, when the 23-year-old praised her bandmates and wrote that she was living in “disbelief” that they were all getting to chase their dreams together. She ended the message with the phrase “Kats forever.”
Just two months later, it was announced that Bannerman, who was born in Switzerland and is the only Black member of KATSEYE, would be stepping away to focus on her “health and wellbeing.” The lack of detail surrounding the decision fueled frustration among the group’s devoted fan base, with some online speculation suggesting racism could be a factor.
Since then, the situation has only drawn more scrutiny. What was initially described as a temporary break has stretched into a four-month absence, with Bannerman missing several major appearances, including KATSEYE’s performances at Coachella in April and Governors Ball in New York City earlier this month. Based on the tour poster, she also appears set to be absent from the group’s sold-out WildWorld tour, which is scheduled to continue through the end of November.
While Bannerman has remained out of the public eye, KATSEYE has continued performing as a five-member group and has enjoyed major success. A source told the Daily Mail that the group appears to be pushing forward without her.
In February, it was announced that Bannerman, pictured front row center, had stepped away to focus on her “health and wellbeing”
Bannerman did not appear on KATSEYE’s tour poster
‘What was and has been originally described as a temporary break has increasingly started to feel like something much bigger,’ the insider said.
‘The other girls have said behind the scenes that Manon wasn’t putting in the same level of effort as everyone else. Whether that’s entirely fair or not, those feelings have created tension and have strained the bond they once shared.’
KATSEYE – marketed as the world’s first ‘global girl group’ given that their members hail from the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States – rose to prominence in 2024 after forming on the reality TV competition show, The Debut: Dream Academy, created by South Korean record label Hybe and American label Geffen Records.
Comprised of members Daniela Avanzini, 21; Yoonchae Jeung, 18; Sophia Laforteza, 23; Lara Raj, 20; and Megan Skiendiel, 20, in addition to Bannerman, KATSEYE has fast taken the world by storm.
In February this year, they performed their hit song ‘Gnarly’ at the Grammy Awards and earned two nominations – Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
Then, Bannerman’s hiatus was announced. While originally intended ‘to give everyone some breathing room’ and to reset the ‘mood’ of the group, it has now backfired as KATSEYE have ‘found a new rhythm’ without Bannerman, according to our source.
‘They got back on track, the chemistry improved, and they became more comfortable operating as they are now. Which now makes it look like there doesn’t appear to be much urgency or interest in bringing Manon back into the fold,’ the source said.
In April, KATSEYE took the stage for a smashing set at Coachella, scoring the most-streamed performance during the first weekend of the festival. Then, at the American Music Awards in May, they delivered a lively performance of their hit ‘Pinky Up’ and took home three awards, including New Artist of the Year.
They’ve now been added to the lineup of Olivia Rodrigo’s all-female Daisy Chain Fields music festival, which will take place in Irvine, California in August.
Their first single without Bannerman, ‘Pinky Up’, reached No 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a top 20 hit in Australia and the UK. The song’s music video has over 57 million views on YouTube and on Spotify it has been streamed over 141 million times. It’s also the longest-charting song on the Hot 100 from a female group this year.
An EP titled ‘Wild’ is slated for release on August 14, with the record already becoming one of Spotify’s most pre-saved albums.
KATSEYE is comprised of Lara Raj, Sophia Laforteza, Megan Skiendiel, Daniela Avanzini and Yoonchae Jeung, in addition to Bannerman
Bannerman has since removed KATSEYE from her Instagram bio
Meanwhile, Bannerman’s social media activity has only fueled the feud rumors.
She recently ‘liked’ an Instagram post from pop culture commentator Simply Simone, who had claimed Bannerman was the victim of ‘abhorrent hate’ due to her skin color. The post also claimed that black members of mixed-race girl groups are often victims of racism.
In another post of her own, Bannerman this week shared a picture of a friend who was traveling with her on a plane and holding her pinky finger upwards at an angle. Some fans thought it a not-too-subtle dig at KATSEYE’s new ‘Pinky Up’ hit.
‘Not you trying to shade Katseye with that pinky up,’ one follower wrote.
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More confusing still, while the group’s record label Hybe have said that Manon has been on hiatus for recuperation, the singer herself has taken to the social media app WeVerse to insist that she is in fine health.
‘I want you to hear this from me, I’m healthy, I’m okay, and I’m taking care of myself,’ Manon wrote.
‘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.’
She has since removed her reference to KATSEYE from her Instagram bio, sparking fears that she may be leaving the group for good.
As some singers – such as SZA, Chloe Bailey, Normani and others – threw their support behind Bannerman, fans argued among themselves online.
‘It’s about time we have a serious conversation about how some of yall continue to treat black women in girl groups,’ posted one.
‘Singling out the only black girl of the group is not a good look. The racism is showing! The fans are not going to let this slide!’ wrote another.
The rest of KATSEYE, however, has put on a united front in public to quell rumors of any discord.
Avanzini and Yoonchae were spotted leaving Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine tour in Los Angeles over the weekend, while fans recently spotted Avanzini, Raj and Skiendiel dancing to KATSEYE’s hits at a West Hollywood club.
The group even took a sisterly trip to the zoo together while on a promotional tour in Sydney, Australia.
As for Bannerman, she recently made an appearance alongside Heidi Klum on Germany’s Next Top Model and collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger at the Miami Grand Prix.
She has otherwise kept a low profile and seems to be enjoying spending time with her friends after being thrust into the whirlwind of overnight pop superstardom.
KATSEYE, pictured performing in Las Vegas last month, have gone on to book gigs and put out new music without Bannerman
As Bannerman continues to recuperate in private, KATSEYE has forged ahead as a quintet with record-breaking success
And, a source told the Daily Mail, everybody seems ‘happy’ to move forward on their own.
‘All the girls understand that groups like this rarely last forever. Eventually, everyone starts thinking about solo projects and what comes next,’ they said.
‘Right now, moving forward without Manon seems to be the direction everyone has accepted and is happy with. They can say they’ll always be sisters, and maybe on some level that’s true. But as more time passes and the distance continues to grow, a reunion feels less and less likely.’
A source close to Bannerman, however, insisted that the 23-year-old ‘does not want to leave the band’ and is frustrated with how she was portrayed on the reality TV show.
While the other members boasted backgrounds in either singing or dancing before joining KATSEYE, Bannerman had only worked as a model. As a result, she was often ranked last by the show’s judges as the other members were more experienced on stage.
On the show Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, which followed their ascent to global stardom, she was accused of regularly missing practice and rehearsals.
While she is ‘aware of criticism’ about the group’s performance style and ensembles, the source said that she is also ‘the member who is most in touch with what the audience wants because of her background as an influencer.’
She simply ‘took the break to work out what she wanted to do next,’ the source added.
When pressed about Manon’s absence in April on The Zane Lowe show, the women of KATSEYE had nothing but kind words for her.
‘At the end of the day, we just all want each other to win. And to be good. And to feel good and to be happy and just, you know, just keep showing up for what we want,’ Laforteza said.
Raj added, ‘I think we also want to say like she’s our sister forever. You know what I mean? Like we love her so much and we built this together. So we just want to give her all the space and love she needs right now.’
While KATSEYE seem to be dancing around the topic, the insider said that the group will likely be forced to face the music eventually.
‘They will have to address it soon and before they go out on tour,’ the source said. ‘So by the end of the summer things will be addressed and made much clearer as they all want to move forward for the benefit of all of them and their fans.’
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for KATSEYE and Bannerman for comment.
