There is only one day left before the first part of Wildworld begins, the tour that will take the K-pop group Katseye across Europe, and there is already a confirmed absence: Sophia Laforteza, the group’s leader since it chose its members in November 2023 — after a casting that became a reality show on YouTube — will not join the European dates of the tour, after some time focused on recovering from a mental health setback.
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The absence of the 23-year-old Filipino-American singer, which she herself has already explained through a storie on her Instagram profile (5.7 million followers) published this Sunday, will not have completely surprised the group’s fans. Laforteza has been withdrawn from her professional commitments since the beginning of this August. The reason for her break was also told by herself, again on her social media, through a message (now unavailable) in which she already pointed to the core issue: her mental health. “Making this decision was not easy, but I am learning that health comes first. I am realizing that if I don’t take care of my mind and body now, I won’t be able to continue doing what I love for much longer,” confessed the Katseye member.
On this occasion, her message has focused on reaffirming what she said then: “I can’t express in words how much I want to participate in this tour and perform for all of you. I have to remind myself every day that our mental health and well-being must always be a priority. When I return, I want to give my best version. I have been in continuous treatment and doing everything possible to stay healthy, busy, and happy. You cannot give what you do not have. It is important to take care of yourself.”
At that time, the people responsible for the K-pop group, through the South Korean management and record company HYBE, already publicly supported her with a message, assuring that “the long-term health, safety, and well-being of our artists will always be the number one priority,” and now they have shown their support again. Upon the artist’s confirmation that she is extending her leave, Katseye’s record label has published another statement of support that can be read on their website and on the group’s Instagram profile (9.5 million followers): “Sophia is focusing on her well-being and the company remains committed to providing her with all the necessary support and resources,” it assures. And adds: “She will not participate in The Wildworld Tour across Europe and the United Kingdom, scheduled from September 1 to 17. We sincerely ask for the understanding of Eyekons [as the group’s fans are known], as our top priority will always be the long-term health and well-being of our artists. We will share more updates as they become available. Please continue sending your love, support, and affection to Sophia and Katseye.”
In her message, Laforteza also expressed words of gratitude. “I have received pure love and support from the company, my bandmates, and everyone around me while I recover. I can’t wait to come back and share the stage with my sisters again. They are going to put on an extraordinary performance for you, EYEKONS. Believe me, I have been watching them and they are giving it their all!” And she ends: “See you soon, EYEKONS. I love you all so much. Thank you for your understanding.”
Laforteza’s absence obviously does not come at a good time for the group, which already temporarily lost another of its members, Manon Bannerman, last February. At that time, the 24-year-old Swiss singer of Ghanaian descent and the record label cited the same reasons for her break from the band: “Focusing on her health and well-being.” Still recovering, Bannerman is also not expected on Katseye’s upcoming tour — in fact, she already missed the last Lollapalooza concert. In an interview with the group in April this year for Nylon magazine, it was already clear that Bannerman, once chosen as the “visual center” and the most charismatic and stage-present of the six members, had very clear priorities: “Being in a group is simply about good communication, setting good boundaries, and building a friendship, but also a working relationship, and always remembering that it is a shared goal we have,” she assured.
The European part of The Wildworld Tour, for which everything is already sold out, will start tomorrow, September 1, at the 3Arena in Dublin and will end on September 17 at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen. The band is expected to land with their tour in Miami on October 13. We will see with how many of its members. The group was conceived to export the methodologies of Korean pop, or K-pop, to the rest of the world. At the last Grammy Awards, it was nominated for best new artist and best pop duo/group performance.
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