TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – KATSEYE vocalist Sophia Laforteza will be temporarily absent from group activities, citing mental health concerns.
Label HYBE x Geffen (HxG) announced that Sophia will temporarily be unable to participate in upcoming promotions, stating that the decision was made to prioritize her “mental health and wellness.”
“We understand how much EYEKONS were looking forward to seeing Sophia on stage, but it is imperative that her mental health and wellness are prioritized,” the statement read, as quoted from Antara, citing a Soompi broadcast on Saturday.
The agency stated that the singer, whose real name is Sophia Elizabeth Guevara Laforteza, has received “the utmost support.”
“While Sophia herself is eager to perform alongside her members, the health, safety, and long-term well-being of our artists will always remain our highest priority,” the label said.
On a separate post, Sophia wrote that she’s heartbroken to be taking a break from KATSEYE. “Making this decision wasn’t easy, but I’m learning that health has to come first. I’m realizing that if I don’t take care of my mind and body now, I won’t be able to keep doing what I love the most for so long,” she said, as quoted from Variety.
Missed performances
Sophia missed KATSEYE’s performance for the Hinterland Music Festival on July 30, as she was recovering from an illness.
She was also notably absent from the premiere of the group’s new documentary “KATSEYE: Wild Hearts,” which will screen worldwide on August 12.
When asked, member Lara told reporters that Sophia was “not feeling well” but “says hi.”
The announcement of Sophia’s hiatus also came as KATSEYE gears up for the release of their new EP, “Wild,” scheduled for release on August 14.
Sophia is also expected to miss the group’s scheduled gig as part of Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival on August 29.
KATSEYE will also kick off their upcoming world tour, “The WildWorld Tour,” on September 1 in Dublin, Ireland, but it’s unclear whether Sophia will be back by then.
HxG said it’s planning to “reassess” Sophia’s condition in September and will “share further update with fans at that time.”
Second member after Manon
In February, the label announced that KATSEYE member Manon Bannerman would take a temporary hiatus to focus on her health and well-being.
“We fully support this decision,” the label said at the time.
Meanwhile, Manon told fans that she was “healthy” and that “sometimes things unfold in ways we don’t fully control.”
She thanked fans for standing by her on the KATSEYE’s Weverse platform. “I love you endlessly and can’t wait to see you again,” she wrote, as quoted from BBC.
KATSEYE continued their scheduled performances sans Manon since then. No timeline was given for her return, and Manon remained on hiatus at the time this article was written.
KATSEYE is a group formed in 2023 through the Dream Academy series hosted by HYBE and Geffen Records.
The group, consisting of Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeung, debuted in June 2024 with the release of the song “Debut.”
KATSEYE is hailed as a “global group,” as the members come from various countries, including the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States.
Read: KATSEYE Brings Ed Sheeran, Demi Moore Into New Release
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
