Global girl-group KATSEYE has just announced today that one of their members, Manon Bannerman, will be taking a temporary break to “focus on her health and wellbeing.”
The announcement was shared today by the group’s official Weverse account, a South Korean global fan community platform widely used by K-pop artists to communicate directly with their fans.
“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.
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.
Thank you to our EYEKONS for your continued love, patience, and understanding.”
While no specific timeline has been given for Manon’s return, the group confirmed that all previously scheduled activities of KATSEYE will proceed despite her absence. Since the announcement, fans have flooded social media with messages of support, praising the group for prioritizing mental and physical health.
Manon reassures fans that she’s healthy via Weverse
A little after the announcement, Manon shared via Weverse dm (a paid subscription service that enables fans to have direct conversations with artists) that she’s been healthy and taking care of herself. This announcement was shared on the KATSEYE subreddit by user XOChicStyle.
Manon Bannerman, of Swiss nationality, has been recognized for her stage presence and global appeal since KATSEYE’s debut and the feature documentary series Popstar Academy. During the survival show, Manon was frequently criticized online during moments when she was absent from activities, sparking various discussions about commitment, pressure, and how female trainees are judged in the idol industry.
This unfortunate scrutiny has continued even post-debut of the group, such as the absence of Manon in the “Gabriela” performance video, in which she had sprained her ankle. Similar conversations resurfaced during other brief pauses in her public appearances, illustrating how idol absences, regardless of medical or personal reasons, are often met with disproportionate backlash.
Supporters of Manon and KATSEYE have since pointed out that the renewed focus on her health highlights the importance of compassion and context when discussing idol absences, especially in high-pressure training and performance environments where physical injuries, mental fatigue, and recovery periods are often unavoidable.
Most recently, KATSEYE appeared at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, performing the song “Gnarly,” featuring an intense dance break that audiences and viewers have come to praise. The group was also recognized as a nominee for the categories of “Best New Artist” and “Best Pop Duo/ Group Performance for Gabriela.”