KATSEYE Shuts Down Online Rumors Surrounding Manon's Break in New Interview
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Global girl group KATSEYE has officially addressed the endless online rumors surrounding member Manon Bannerman’s ongoing hiatus, firmly denying that race played any part in her break.
In an interview with Vanity Fair published on June 30, 2026, the active members of KATSEYE pushed back against months of fan speculation to clarify where the group stands.
Five members of the group—Sophia Laforteza, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, and Yoonchae Jeung—participated in the discussion, while Manon was absent.
Sophia Shuts Down Race-Related Rumors
Group leader Sophia directly cleared the air, making it clear that those theories are completely false:
"We can definitely say that in our situation, in no way was it about race. That goes against everything that we stand for."
Lara Emphasizes the Group's Tight Bond
Lara also jumped in to defend the group’s internal relationship, reminding fans that onlookers on social media do not know the full story. "The safest space that we had was within the six of us," Lara explained. "People just have no idea what goes on. They just don't. It's nothing but love between us."
The members also confirmed that they still chat with Manon "here and there." They even mentioned seeing her attend Coachella as a fan earlier this year rather than performing on stage with them. "I'm really happy that she's able to enjoy things like that," Sophia added warmly, showing that the bond remains supportive.
How the Speculation Started
The confusion began back in February 2026, when labels HYBE and Geffen Records announced that Manon would take a temporary break to focus on her health. However, the mystery grew when Manon posted her own update on Weverse shortly after, assuring fans she was already "healthy and doing well."
The rumor mill spun even faster after fans noticed Manon's social media activity. She reportedly liked a post discussing the difficult experiences Black women face in Western girl groups and began following artists who have spoken out about racism in the music industry. She also recently removed "KATSEYE" from her Instagram bio, though she reassured fans she is still having "positive conversations" with management.
While KATSEYE’s latest Vanity Fair interview might not answer every single question about her timeline, the members wanted to make their stance completely clear: there is no internal drama, the break has nothing to do with race, and the door is always open for their sixth member.