Manon Bannerman addressed fans for the first time on Tuesday after abruptly stepping back from KATSEYE, posting a short Instagram message that acknowledged the swirl of concern surrounding her hiatus. Her update arrived just days after HYBE and Geffen confirmed she would pause group activities for health reasons, a decision announced on 20 February that immediately ignited speculation about her future.
Her message was brief enough to feel fragile: a mirror selfie captioned 'I love you all more than words can describe.' It was the kind of line people write when they cannot, or will not, explain more. But given the noise around her exit, even that quiet statement felt heavy. The hiatus was described as temporary, yet its timing cut too close to familiar criticisms that have followed her since KATSEYE's formation, raising questions about whether this is simply a break — or the first sign of something more permanent.
During KATSEYE's early days, those criticisms were documented openly in Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, the Netflix series that tracked the group's creation. Almost immediately after news of her hiatus broke, clips from the show resurfaced online. Old scenes of Manon missing rehearsals or struggling with the unrelenting pace of training were edited into new narratives, often without context. What the series captured was a young artist learning to adapt to a training culture far from her upbringing in Switzerland, where resting while sick is not usually treated as failure. What the internet revived was a harsher version: a trainee whose commitment was questioned.
Old Wounds Resurface Around Manon Bannerman
In the docuseries, she eventually apologised to her teammates, acknowledged the pressure and promised to adjust to the expectations around her. Mentors accepted her explanation, and the group moved forward together. But online memory is less forgiving, especially when old grievances can be repackaged into new drama.
As soon as the news of her hiatus spread, some commenters revived the argument that she had always struggled to 'fit' the K‑pop system. Others returned to long‑running claims that she had been sidelined in choreography or missing from certain schedules after KATSEYE's 2024 debut. Manon herself previously addressed this, rejecting the idea that she lacked discipline and insisting that selective editing had shaped public perception. The accusations stung, partly because they came with a layer of racial scrutiny. As the group's only Black member, she has faced criticism that many fans argue has been disproportionate.
The internet's ability to hold onto old discomforts has shaped the atmosphere around her 2026 hiatus. Instead of being seen as an isolated health break, it has revived conversations about whether she has been fairly treated within the group and whether the public ever let go of its earliest impressions of her. The resurfaced clips have only reinforced the divide between those who believe she is being unfairly targeted and those convinced her hiatus signals a deeper issue with her commitment.
A Hiatus That Fans Fear Could Be Permanent For Manon Bannerman
The official statement announcing her temporary leave — a joint note from HYBE and Geffen posted to Weverse and X — framed the decision as one made 'after careful consideration'. It offered no details, no timeline, no explanation of whether the pause was Manon's choice or the label's directive. In the absence of clarity, people filled in the blanks with the narratives closest at hand.
https://t.co/EZefVJJ67m pic.twitter.com/tc4OfmXycE
— KATSEYE (@katseyeworld) February 20, 2026
And so her Instagram story, a simple photo paired with a single sentence, became the only direct comment from anyone actually involved. It did not address the rumors. It did not deny or confirm anything. But it did remind fans that behind the chatter is a young woman operating under an industry that demands near‑perfect endurance.
For now, the hiatus stands as just that — a pause, not a departure. The questions surrounding her place in KATSEYE remain unanswered. And until HYBE, Geffen or Manon herself decide to say more, the only certainty is that her absence has exposed tensions that were never fully resolved.
