Katseye Member Manon Bannerman Absent from Coachella Performance Despite Festival Attendance
Key Points
- Manon Bannerman did not participate in Katseye’s Coachella show on Friday evening
- Despite missing the performance, she was present at the music festival and communicated with supporters
- Her entertainment label confirmed earlier in the week that she would not take the stage with her bandmates
The popular girl group Katseye took the Coachella stage as a five-member ensemble on Friday evening, with their sixth member Manon Bannerman notably absent from the performance. While Bannerman did not join her groupmates on stage, she was spotted at the desert festival and reached out to fans through social media.
From the festival grounds, Bannerman shared a heartfelt message with her followers via Instagram Stories, expressing gratitude with the words: “6 milli of u, sending warm hugs and kisses to all of u. thank you.” Festival attendees also spotted her enjoying other performances, including watching Sabrina Carpenter’s set alongside Chappell Ronan.
The entertainment company representing Katseye had previously announced to The Korea Herald that Bannerman would be sitting out the Friday night showcase. The label stated simply that “Manon remains on hiatus,” confirming her continued absence from group activities.
Bannerman’s break from the group was first announced in February through an official company statement. The management explained that after thoughtful discussions, the decision was made for her to step away temporarily to prioritize her personal health and wellbeing. The statement emphasized their full support for this choice and assured fans that the group would continue with scheduled commitments while looking forward to reuniting when appropriate.
Following the official announcement, Bannerman addressed her supporters directly through the fan platform Weverse. She clarified her situation, telling followers: “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.”
The future of Bannerman’s involvement with the group remains uncertain. In early April, she sparked speculation among fans when she removed references to Katseye from her social media profiles, prompting questions about her potential return to the group.
On April 3rd, Bannerman provided another update to concerned supporters, sharing her appreciation for their continued backing. “Thank you so much for all the love and support you’ve been sending my way,” she posted on Weverse. “I’m really grateful for the patience and kindness everyone has shown during this time. HxG and I are having positive conversations and I feel supported. I’m happy and I’m healthy. I’ll share more soon. Thank you for always being there for me.”
Prior to the Coachella performance, Nylon magazine featured the group in a cover story published on April 7th. The interview and photo session, which included Bannerman, were completed before her announced hiatus began.
During that interview, Bannerman reflected on the challenges of public attention that come with fame. “What we’ve learned about what it takes to be an artist is not paying too much attention to what is happening online,” she explained. “I think once you get famous, there’s so many opinions all of a sudden about you. Everyone’s judging and having something to say. Just keep building a wall between all of that.”
Fellow group member Lara shared the ensemble’s excitement about their desert festival debut during the same interview. “I think Coachella is going to be a very huge and iconic moment for us,” she said. “We’re all very obviously inspired by Beychella and Blackpink Coachella and how much effort they’ve put into their Coachella performances. We want it to be very grand and this big pivotal moment for us.”