KATSEYE's Daniela Avanzini was asked why Manon Bannerman is no longer in the group during Paris Fashion Week, and her short answer has fans talking. In a clip shared on Reddit, Daniela said: 'I miss her so much. I wish her the best. I'm not sure!' The moment comes days before the group opens the North American leg of its WILDWORLD Tour.
Manon has been on hiatus since HYBE x Geffen announced a break on 20 February, citing her health and wellbeing. The label has not announced a departure, and no return date has been given. KATSEYE was formed through HYBE and Geffen Records' Dream Academy programme and debuted in 2024 as a six-member group.
Manon's Hiatus and What the Other Members Have Said
In its February statement, HYBE x Geffen said the companies 'fully support this decision' and 'look forward to being together again when the time is right'. Manon wrote to fans on Weverse that she was 'okay' and 'taking care of myself'. In April, she said she and the company were having 'positive conversations' and that she felt supported, adding: 'I'm happy and I'm healthy. I'll share more soon.'
Fans noticed other changes that month. Manon removed KATSEYE from her Instagram bio, and she was absent when the group made its Coachella debut, with the five other members performing without her. HYBE confirmed at the time that she 'remains on hiatus'.
Daniela's reply fits a pattern of careful answers. In a June interview, Sophia Laforteza said Manon 'really deserves' time and space and that 'the door is always open'. In another interview, Lara Raj said, 'It's nothing but love between us', and the members said they had stayed in touch with Manon 'here and there'. In August, Lara reportedly told a fan it was 'hard to say' whether Manon would return.
A Group Down to Four
Sophia herself stepped back in early August, when HYBE x Geffen said she was temporarily unable to take part in promotional activities so her mental health and wellness could be prioritised. The label planned to reassess her condition in September, and she sat out the European and UK leg of the WILDWORLD Tour. KATSEYE has since continued as a four-member act, with Daniela, Lara, Megan Skiendiel and Yoonchae Jung.
The group released its third EP, WILD, on 14 August without Manon. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 170,000 equivalent album units in its first week, the group's first No. 1 on the chart. The single 'Animal' has also kept going, recently spending a 10th straight week on the Hot 100.
@katseyeworld this one’s got some kick to it 🐾 our new EP, ‘WILD,’ is out now everywhere!! #KATSEYE_WILD #WILD #KATSEYE
♬ original sound - KATSEYE
Fashion Week and the Road Ahead
KATSEYE's Paris trip also marked a fashion milestone. Megan and Lara made their Paris Fashion Week debut at Loewe's spring/summer 2027 show earlier this month.
More appearances are coming. The WILDWORLD Tour began in Dublin on 1 September, and its North American leg opens on Tuesday, 13 October, with a show at Miami's Kaseya Center. KATSEYE is also set to perform at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles on 18 October.
How Reddit Reacted
The clip was posted to the r/Fauxmoi subreddit, where it drew more than 1,000 upvotes and over 100 comments. One of the most popular comments, with thousands of upvotes, joked: 'oh baby those contracts are TIGHT'.
Comment
by u/demimonde9 from discussion
in Fauxmoi
Many commenters argued the members could not say more. One wrote that 'People gotta remember that the blame ultimately lies with the upper management and not these group members.' Others speculated that legal obligations might limit what anyone involved can say, though that has not been confirmed.
Not everyone read Daniela's answer as cold. Replying to a comment that the members were acting as if they barely knew Manon, another commenter said it 'didn't give off "barely know her" vibes' and instead 'gave off "we're not really close anymore" vibes'.
