KATSEYE is addressing a sensitive rumor. Sophia Laforteza kept her answer direct. The group member spoke about Manon Bannerman’s ongoing hiatus in a new interview. While online chatter continued, Sophia Laforteza made it clear the group rejects one major claim.
What Sophia Laforteza said about rumors involving Manon Bannerman
In a new Vanity Fair profile, Sophia Laforteza denied that race played a role in Manon Bannerman’s hiatus from KATSEYE. The topic surfaced after fans discussed Bannerman’s absence and the wider pressure Black women can face in girl groups. “We can definitely say that in our situation, in no way was it about race,” Laforteza told Vanity Fair. “That goes against everything that we stand for.”
The rumors about Manon Bannerman grew after the singer stepped back from group activities in February. At the time, HYBE and Geffen said Bannerman would take a temporary hiatus to focus on her “health and wellbeing.” She did not participate in the Vanity Fair interview. Vanity Fair also noted that Bannerman is not featured on KATSEYE’s upcoming EP, Wild. The report added that she has not yet committed to joining the group’s upcoming world tour.
Still, the remaining members pushed back on the idea of bad blood. Lara Raj told Vanity Fair, “The safest space that we had was within the six of us,” and added that there was “nothing but love” between them. The group has continued performing as a five-member lineup, including at Coachella.
PEOPLE reported that online rumors intensified after Manon reportedly liked a video about the experience of being a Black woman in girl groups. The group also said they still keep in touch with Bannerman “here and there.” Laforteza’s comments offered the group’s clearest response yet to the race-related speculation.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT KATSEYE’S RESPONSE TO THE MANON BANNERMAN RUMORS?
