2 min readFor the second time this year, a member of Katseye is taking a step back. On August 7, following her absence from the Los Angeles premiere of the Katseye: Wild Hearts documentary, Sophia Laforteza issued a statement announcing she would be taking a break from the girl group, explaining she would be spending the time focusing on her mental and physical health.
And last night, we got a look at how the four remaining active members—Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, and Yoonchae Jeung—would be keeping things going as a quartet.
Just one day after the news was shared, Katseye headlined Los Angeles’s Head in the Clouds festival. They performed an hour-long set, singing hit songs such as “Gnarly,” “Pinky Up,” and “Gabriela,” as a quartet—without Laforteza or Manon Bannerman, who stepped back six months ago for similar reasons.
“It truly breaks my heart to have to miss out on a lot,” Laforteza wrote on social media. “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.”
HYBE and Geffen Records also released a formal statement, providing more context to the decision. “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. 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,” it read.