Katseye announces Sophia Laforteza will miss part of world tour

Katseye member Sophia Laforteza will not be joining the group for the European and UK portion of their upcoming world tour.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Laforteza, 23, would be stepping back temporarily from group activities to prioritise her mental health. This follows a similar decision made by fellow group member Manon Bannerman earlier this year.

The announcement comes just days before the group is set to begin their tour, with stops planned across multiple countries, including Ireland, the UK, the US, and Mexico.

In a statement, the group's management confirmed that Laforteza will not participate in tour dates scheduled between early and mid-September. 

“Our highest priority will always be the health and long-term well-being of our artists," added K-pop entertainment leader Hybe and US record label Geffen Records, often referred to as HxG.

They encouraged fans to continue showing support for both Laforteza and the group during this time.

Just this weekend, the group also backed off from Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields festival, where they were set to perform on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

The sudden change of plans came as band member Megan Skiendiel strained her ankle in tour rehearsals.

But shortly before their replacements Devon Again appeared at the festival, Megan and bandmates Yoonchae and Lara Raj surprised fans when they stepped out on stage.

The trio told the audience they were honoured to introduce Baby2Baby, a non-profit organisation which provides necessities such as clothing and nappies to children in poverty, ahead of Devon Again's performance.

And they admitted they were "so disappointed" not to be singing themselves. Megan said, "We’re so disappointed that we can’t perform today on stage, but my ankle is on hiatus.”

“But our hearts are definitely not. We’re sending all of our love to Olivia and this beautiful community that she built at Daisy Chain Fields. We’re so happy to be here and show as much support as we can. We love you, Olivia. Thank you for letting us be a small part of this,” she added.

Katseye, formed in 2023 through a televised competition series, consisted of six members in total.

With Laforteza and Manon Bannerman, now taking time away from the band to focus on their wellness, the current group members have come down to four.