KATSEYE fans hoping to see the group in full this weekend at a Los Angeles music festival are sadly out of luck.
Sophia Laforteza, considered the leader of the group behind hit songs including “Gnarly” and “Gabriela,” said she’ll miss the Head in the Clouds music festival the group was scheduled to attend in Pasadena this Saturday.
“It truly breaks my heart to have to miss out on a lot,” she wrote.
“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.”
The group said that they supported Laforteza’s decision in a post on Weverse, a South Korean mobile app dedicated to artists.
“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,” the statement reads. “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.”
Laforteza was not present at the group’s red-carpet apperance for the premiere of the “Katseye: Wild Hearts” documentary. Katseye’s Lara Raj told Variety, “She’s not feeling well, but she says hi.”
Other members of the group include Daniela Avanzini, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, and Yoonchae Jeung.
Bannerman also announced her own temporary hiatus in February, citing “her health and wellbeing.”
The group found fame after their win in the 2023 talent competition reality show The Debut: Dream Academy. A subsequent 2024 show, Pop Star Academy: Katseye, broke them out further.
Laforteza has previously expressed her gratitude for being the group’s leader.
“I feel like being a leader of KATSEYE is such an honor,” she told reporters in 2024.
“I love and care for these girls so much, and so I feel like because of that, and knowing that they trust me, and that I feel a mutual respect and care for them, it makes the job of being a leader a lot easier and less stressful than I feel like I anticipated,” Sophia expressed. “And so, the leader position truly does come a lot easier because of them.”
The Head in the Clouds festival will have a heavy K-pop presence as well as several Asian-American artists.
KATSEYE will perform alongside XG, Dabin.kr, Rich Brian, Gia Fu, KiiiKiii, LNGSHOT, no na, Tiffany Day, UMI and Warren Hue at the one-day festival in Pasadena. The girl group is the headlining act and will be the final performance of the day at 9:55 p.m.
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