KATSEYE's loyal fanbase has been left in a state of limbo since Manon Bannerman's temporary departure from the group, with many speculating that her hiatus was linked to the sensitive topic of race. But in an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair, the remaining five members have fired back at these claims, delivering a resounding message of unity and solidarity.
As soon as Manon engaged with social media posts about her position as the only Black woman in KATSEYE, online chatter quickly turned to whispers of racism. But Sophia Laforteza was quick to shut down these suggestions, stating bluntly, "We can definitely say that in our situation, it had absolutely nothing to do with race. That goes against everything we stand for." Fellow member Lara Raj added, "The safest space we ever had was within the six of us. People just have no idea what's going on – all they see is love between us."
The group also revealed that they're still in regular contact with Manon and are respecting her decision to take a step back. "We can't speak for Manon," said Sophia. "The specific reasons for her hiatus aren't our story to tell." The news comes as the group prepares to drop their new EP, 'WILD', on August 14th – a highly anticipated follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed release, 'Beautiful Chaos'. That EP included fan-favourite track 'Gnarly', which earned a spot in NME's top songs of 2025.
KATSEYE's sights are set firmly on the future, with a packed schedule that includes their 'WILDWORLD' tour for 2026. The UK leg will see them perform at London's The O2 and Manchester's Co-op Live, giving British fans the chance to experience their electrifying live show firsthand.
The group's Coachella debut earlier this year was a major highlight, with standout performances from EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami. And in another nod to their growing global profile, Olivia Rodrigo recently announced KATSEYE as part of the line-up for her new all-female Daisy Chain Fields festival – an exciting addition to their ever-expanding résumé.