KATSEYE leader Sophia Laforteza is temporarily stepping back from the global girl group to prioritize her mental health and overall well-being.
HYBE x Geffen Records announced on Friday, August 7, 2026, that Sophia will be unable to participate in the group’s upcoming promotional activities as she takes time to rest and recover.
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The label said Sophia’s mental health and wellness must be prioritized and that she has been receiving support following consultations with medical professionals.
The statement read: "We are very sorry to share that Sophia will be temporarily unable to participate in upcoming promotional activities.
"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.
"Sophia has been receiving the utmost support, and following thorough consultations with medical professionals, it has been advised that she take dedicated time for extended rest and ongoing care to ensure a full recovery."
The company added that it will continue to monitor Sophia’s condition and reassess her status in September.
"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.
"We will continue to closely monitor her progress and support her journey. We plan to reassess her condition in September and will share a further update with fans at that time.
"We sincerely appreciate your understanding and continued support for Sophia, and we look forward to her being back with KATSEYE."
The company did not provide further details about Sophia’s condition.
SOPHIA’S MESSAGE TO EYEKONS
Following the announcement from her management, Sophia also shared a separate statement on her Instagram Stories.
The Filipino-American member admitted that she was heartbroken over the decision to take a break from the group.
She wrote: "It truly breaks my heart to have to miss out on a lot.
"You know how much I love being on stage, performing, and sharing these moments with you.
"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."
Read: KATSEYE’s Sophia Laforteza proud Filipina at Coachella 2026
Sophia then assured fans that she intends to use the time to heal properly and return stronger.
She said: "Thank you for being so patient, understanding, and always showing me so much love. It means more to me than I could ever say.
"I promise I'm going to work as hard as I can to get through this, heal properly, and come back stronger."
She also asked their fans, known as EYEKONS, to continue supporting KATSEYE during her break, saying she will remain part of the fandom in the meantime.
"Please continue to be kind and give KATSEYE all your love and support as we fulfill our promise to show up for you in every way we can.
"I'll be here as one of the EYEKONS in the meantime with y'all. See you soon," she added.
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Like her talent management, Sophia did not go into further details about her health condition.
However, she has been open about her ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) diagnosis, admitting during a livestream in May that it often makes her life “difficult” and causes “a lot of internal restlessness."
Read: Sophia Laforteza gets candid about living with ADHD
KATSEYE'S MANON HIATUS
Sophia’s hiatus comes nearly six months after fellow KATSEYE member Manon Bannerman also took a temporary break from group activities in February.
HYBE x Geffen announced on February 20 that Manon would be taking a temporary hiatus to focus on her “health and well-being.”
The statement read: "After open and thoughtful conversations together, we are sharing that Manon will be taking a temporary hiatus from group activities to focus on her health and wellbeing.
“We fully support this decision. KATSEYE remains committed to showing up for one another and for the fans who mean everything to us.
"The group will continue scheduled activities during this time, and we look forward to being together again when the time is right."
Since then, Manon has removed KATSEYE from her Instagram bio and has yet to return to the group for any appearances.
KATSEYE, which was formed through the reality competition series The Debut: Dream Academy, officially debuted in 2024 with six members: Sophia, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, Yoonchae Jeung, and Manon.
The group is known for songs including "Gabriela," "Touch," "Pinky Up," "Gnarly," "Gameboy," and "Debut."
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