By Nara Wongmueng

Featured Image: Photo of KATSEYE members, Megan, Lara, Manon, and Sophia at the GRAMMY Awards. (Photo by courtesy of Etienne Laurent)

HYBE x Geffen had released a statement on February 20th, stating that KATSEYE member, Manon Bannerman, has been placed on hiatus to focus on her wellbeing and had chosen to do this on her own accord. However, Weverse DM’s from Manon herself contradicts the company’s statement. As Fans are speculate that Manon is undergoing mistreatment at HYBE x Geffen and is preparing for her departure from the group, KATSEYE released a new single called “Pinky Up” and released a new

On Friday, February 20th, HYBE x Geffen released a statement to KATSEYE’s Weverse community saying “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.”

However, Manon sent a Weverse DM that doesn’t directly fit the narrative that HYBE x Geffen had made for her. The message reads, “Hi friends. I want you to hear this from me, I’m healthy, I’m okay, and I’m taking care of myself. Thank u for checking in! Sometimes things unfold in ways we don’t fully control, but I’m trusting the bigger picture. Thank you for standing by me. I love you endlessly and can’t wait to see you again.” A couple days later, Manon liked an Instagram reel by a creator that goes by Simply Simone. The caption read, “Another Black girl subjected to racism and label mistreatment yet again.” and fans drew connections and similarities of Black women in girl groups being mistreated; they saw a recurring pattern and are speculating that Manon is being mistreated behind closed doors. She then later unliked the post after fans screenshotted it and shared it on multiple platforms.

Fans are boycotting KATSEYE as a whole because of the hiatus saying “No Manon, no KATSEYE”. Standing by the fact that KATSEYE will always be a six-member group and not five. Fans noting that HYBE has had a history of forming girl groups and losing a member due to some kind of issues. Girl groups under HYBE such as IL-LIT, LESSERAFIM, and NewJeans, have had members removed from their groups and ever since their member’s removal, their groups have been in the faces of Korean media to gain traction either good or bad; any media is good media.

On many platforms such as TikTok, many fans are voicing their opinions and concerns over Manon. TikTok user, @babythatisningning, posted a video stating their opinion that “Manon’s “hiatus” was just to draw attention back to kATSEYE and its working. Putting their most popular member on hiatus especially when there’s already speculation that they’re mistreating her? Literally a goldmine for attention…the intention was to never kick her out, Geffen knows way better than that.”