Two members are missing. The paperwork still lists six.
That is the clearest picture available of KATSEYE’s current status as the group prepares for the North American leg of the Wildworld Tour.
Manon Bannerman has been on hiatus since February. Sophia Laforteza stepped back in early August. Both cited health and wellbeing. Neither has returned to the stage. And yet business records obtained and reported earlier this month still list Manon (or her management) among the owners of Katseye LLC. The door, at least on paper, remains open.
Photo via @staceyaubries on X
Sophia Laforteza collects her second dragon ball with Anna while on a hiatus from Katseye
— IGN: staceyaubrey (@staceyaubries) September 27, 2026
What Lara Said, and What She Did Not Say
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In recent comments, Lara Raj shut down circulating rumors that Manon had permanently left the group. “None of those rumors are true,” she said, according to multiple reports. The message was direct. It was also carefully limited.
Lara did not give a timeline for Manon’s return. She did not claim Sophia would rejoin for Miami or any later date. She simply rejected the idea that Manon had been quietly removed. That distinction matters. In the current climate around the group, fans and media have been quick to treat every absence as a soft exit. Lara’s statement pushed back against that specific claim without promising a reunion.
Photo via @KATSEYEBASE on X — the four who remain
KATSEYE’s tour will resume in 3 weeks for their North American dates and we are still unsure wether Sophia will be back or not.
— Lavidareal (@1Lavidareal) September 27, 2026
The Double Absence Changes the Story
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One member on hiatus is manageable. Two creates a different kind of pressure.
Manon’s February departure came after the group’s early breakthroughs and before the full weight of the Wild era. Sophia’s August announcement landed four days before the limited theatrical release of the WILD HEARTS documentary and just before the EP dropped. The timing made every subsequent performance feel like a statement: the show continues.
Europe proved the remaining four — Lara, Megan, Daniela, and Yoonchae — can hold arenas. The SNL debut reinforced it on national television. But the dual hiatus also means the group is currently operating without two of its original six voices and personalities. That absence is visible in the formations, audible in the harmonies, and present in every conversation about the group’s future.
What the Business Records Suggest
The July filing that still lists Manon among the owners of Katseye LLC is the strongest public signal that her exit has not been formalized. Labels and management rarely keep inactive members on ownership documents without reason. At minimum, it indicates the relationship has not been fully severed.
Sophia’s situation is different. Her hiatus was framed as temporary from the start, with HYBE stating her condition would be reassessed. No equivalent ownership detail has surfaced in the same way. The public messaging around both women remains supportive, but the practical reality is that the touring and promotional unit is four people.
How Fans Are Processing It
Eyekons have largely settled into a pragmatic stance. The European tour reviews and SNL reaction videos show strong support for the four who are working. At the same time, social media still fills with messages hoping for both members’ return. The dominant tone is not anger. It is patience mixed with low-level anxiety about how long “temporary” can last.
Some fans have started treating the current lineup as the de facto group for this era. Others refuse to fully accept that framing. Both reactions make sense. The music and the live shows are still landing. The incomplete picture is harder to ignore the longer it continues.
What Comes Next
The North American tour begins October 13 in Miami. No official update has confirmed either Manon or Sophia will join any of those dates. Until a statement says otherwise, the working assumption remains four members on stage.
Behind the scenes, the dual hiatus raises longer questions the group will eventually have to answer. How does a project built on six distinct personalities redefine itself when two are missing for extended periods? How much of the original chemistry can be carried by the remaining four? And at what point does “hiatus” start to look like something more permanent, even if the legal documents still say otherwise?
Right now, the public facts are simple. Manon is still listed. Sophia is still away. Lara has rejected exit rumors. The four who remain keep showing up. Everything else is still unwritten.
Photo via X — SEO attribution credit
Photo via X — original post credit for SEO and attribution
Why “Still Listed” Is Not the Same as “Coming Back Soon”
Ownership documents and public denials of an exit are meaningful. They are not a timetable. Fans often collapse those categories into one hopeful headline. The more accurate reading is narrower: Manon has not been formally removed, and Lara does not want exit rumors treated as fact.
Sophia’s case was framed from the start as health-related and temporary, with reassessment language from the company side. Temporary can still mean months. Temporary does not guarantee a specific tour date.
For U.S. fans buying tickets, the responsible expectation remains the four-member show. Hope for more. Plan for what has been shown on stage since August.
What Dual Hiatus Does to Group Identity
KATSEYE was marketed on six distinct personalities. Remove two for an extended period and the brand has to lean harder on the remaining chemistry, the catalog, and the live execution. That is survivable — Europe and SNL already demonstrated survival. It is not neutral. It changes how new fans meet the group and how old fans argue about what “the real lineup” means.
Some Eyekons now treat the touring four as the present tense of KATSEYE. Others refuse to let the narrative settle until all six are visible again. Both positions are emotional responses to incomplete information. The industry, meanwhile, keeps booking the act that is available.
Key Takeaways
Has Manon left the group? There is no confirmed exit; Lara has rejected those rumors, and business records have still associated her with Katseye LLC.
Is Sophia returning for Miami? No public confirmation as of late September 2026.
What should fans expect live? The four-member unit unless official channels announce a change.
Related KATSEYE Coverage
- KATSEYE's Lara Shuts Down Manon Exit Rumors: 'None of Those Rumors Are True'
- KATSEYE's Megan Speaks Out After Fan Grabs Her Chest at Paris Show: 'Respect Us'
- KATSEYE Wildworld Tour Update: Four Members Deliver Strong Shows Across Europe
Official Sources & Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manon still in KATSEYE?
Lara has rejected exit rumors; she has not returned to the stage since February 2026.
Why is Sophia away?
She stepped back in August 2026 for mental health and wellbeing.
U.S. tour return confirmed?
No official confirmation as of late September 2026.
