KATSEYE is facing fresh speculation after an unaffiliated Instagram account claimed that Manon Bannerman will not return to the global girl group.
The claim has spread online at a particularly sensitive moment for the group. Manon has been away from KATSEYE activities since February, when HYBE x Geffen announced that she would take a temporary hiatus to focus on her health and wellbeing. Meanwhile, Sophia Laforteza recently announced her own temporary break from group activities after being advised to take time off for her mental health.
The developments have understandably prompted questions among fans about KATSEYE’s future lineup. However, there is an important distinction between what is officially confirmed and what is currently circulating online.
There has been no official announcement from HYBE, Geffen Records, KATSEYE or Manon confirming that Manon has been removed from the group.
What did the viral post claim about Manon?
The latest speculation originated with the Instagram account @metgalainsider_, which has a large following but is not an official KATSEYE, HYBE or Geffen account.
The account claimed to have had contact with people around KATSEYE and presented what it described as an insider perspective on the group’s situation.
According to the post, the account alleged that Manon may not return to KATSEYE and attributed the situation to her repeatedly wanting additional time away from the group’s demanding schedule.
The post suggested that Manon’s requests for longer periods of rest allegedly created difficulties for the group’s scheduling and workload.
It later went further, claiming that Manon had been “removed from the group” because she wanted more personal time.
Those claims, however, remain unverified.
There is currently no public evidence from an official KATSEYE or HYBE x Geffen statement supporting the Instagram account’s version of events.
What has HYBE x Geffen officially said?
The official information available about Manon’s absence points to a temporary hiatus.
In February, HYBE x Geffen announced that Manon would step away from group activities to focus on her health and wellbeing. The statement indicated that the group looked forward to being together again when the time was right.
That wording is significant because it did not announce Manon’s departure from KATSEYE.
A temporary hiatus and a permanent removal from a group are not the same thing, and the distinction should not be overlooked when discussing her current status.
Fans have continued to speculate because the break has lasted for several months, but the length of a hiatus does not by itself establish that a member has permanently left a group.
Manon’s social media activity also sparked speculation
Manon’s absence has previously generated online theories.
In April, fans noticed that the singer had removed “KATSEYE” from her Instagram bio, leading to another wave of speculation about her future with the group.
However, the change did not come with an official announcement confirming her departure.
Manon later reassured fans that she was doing well and indicated that she was having positive conversations with HYBE x Geffen.
Those developments made it difficult to draw a definitive conclusion about her status based solely on social-media activity.
Sophia Laforteza announces her own hiatus
The situation became even more complicated when Sophia Laforteza announced on August 7 that she would temporarily step away from KATSEYE activities to prioritise her mental health.
HYBE x Geffen said Sophia had been advised by medical professionals to take an extended period of rest and care, with her situation expected to be reassessed in September.
Sophia’s announcement means that two of KATSEYE’s six members have now taken extended breaks during 2026.
The group has therefore continued its work without two members while Yoonchae, Lara, Megan and Daniela remain active.
There is currently no evidence that Sophia’s hiatus is connected to Manon’s situation.
Sophia previously addressed questions about Manon’s return
Sophia has also previously spoken about the importance of giving Manon the time and space she needs.
Rather than placing a deadline on Manon’s return, the group has indicated that her wellbeing should come first.
That makes the latest unverified claim particularly difficult to reconcile with the official information currently available.
Until HYBE x Geffen or Manon provides a new update, it would be premature to treat social-media speculation about her removal as a confirmed development.
Why fans are questioning KATSEYE’s lineup
The speculation comes at a major point in KATSEYE’s career.
The group is preparing for the release of its upcoming EP WILD on August 14 and its documentary KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS. With the group operating without Manon and Sophia for the time being, fans are naturally paying close attention to every announcement and social-media update.
KATSEYE’s rise has also made its lineup particularly visible to a global audience. As a group formed through HYBE and Geffen’s Dream Academy project, its members have developed large international fan communities, meaning even small changes to social-media profiles can quickly generate speculation.
But online attention should not be confused with confirmation.
So, has Manon been removed from KATSEYE?
There is currently no official confirmation that Manon has been removed from KATSEYE.
What is confirmed is that Manon began a temporary hiatus in February to focus on her health and wellbeing. Sophia has since announced a separate temporary hiatus for her own mental health.
The viral Instagram account’s claim that Manon was removed from the group remains unverified and should therefore be treated as speculation rather than established fact.
For now, KATSEYE continues its activities with Yoonchae, Lara, Megan and Daniela, while fans wait for an official update regarding Manon’s future.
If HYBE x Geffen or Manon announces a permanent change to her status, that would provide the definitive answer. Until then, the most responsible conclusion is simple: Manon’s departure from KATSEYE has not been officially confirmed.
