HYBE said Friday that Sophia Laforteza will temporarily step back from upcoming KATSEYE promotional activities so she can focus on her mental health and wellness, after doctors advised dedicated time for extended rest and ongoing care. The announcement leaves one of the group’s most visible members off the road at a moment when KATSEYE’s schedule is only getting busier.
The timing matters because KATSEYE already has a packed stretch ahead, with its new EP Wild set for Aug. 14 and a global tour planned for early September. The group’s recent run has included festival stops at Coachella and Gov Ball, while Pinky Up and Animal have both reached the Billboard Hot 100, giving the pause immediate weight for fans following every move.
HYBE said the health, safety and long-term well-being of its artists remain its highest priority, and it will continue to closely monitor Sophia’s progress and support her journey. The company did not give a return date, leaving the length of the hiatus open-ended for now.
Sophia answered the announcement on her Instagram Story, writing that it truly breaks her heart to have to miss out on a lot and that making the decision was not easy. She said health has to come first and added that if she does not take care of her mind and body now, she will not be able to keep doing what she loves for so long. She also thanked fans for being patient, understanding and always showing her so much love.
Her note lands hard because it echoes an earlier break inside the group. HYBE announced in February that Manon would take a hiatus to focus on health and well-being, and fans still had not received an update on her return six months later. Sophia had spoken in June about that pause, saying it was not her place to rush it, and now she is facing the same reality from the other side: she wants to perform alongside her members, but the company says rest comes first.
For KATSEYE, which also includes Lara Raj, Daniela Avanzini, Yoonchae Jeung and Megan Skiendiel, the immediate question is not whether the group keeps moving, but how long it has to do so without one of its best-known voices. HYBE says it will keep watching Sophia’s progress closely, but the unanswered part is the one fans will keep checking for every day: when she is well enough to return.
