Katseye member Sophia is taking a break due to mental health reasons ahead of the world tour

Katseye, the international girl group under the HYBE UMG label, is facing another setback: lead vocalist Sophia Laforteza has announced on social media that she is temporarily stepping back to focus on her mental health. This is already the second time a member of the group has made such an announcement. Earlier this year, in February, bandmate Manon revealed she was also taking a temporary break for her personal health and wellbeing.

In a lengthy statement, Sophia wrote openly about her decision. "It breaks my heart to have to miss so much. You all know how much I love being on stage, performing, and sharing those moments with you. Making this decision was not easy, but I am learning that health has to come first. I realize that if I don't take care of my body and mind now, I won't be able to keep doing what I love most for as long as I want to," Sophia wrote. She added that she will do everything she can to recover and come back stronger, and asked her fans to keep supporting Katseye in the meantime.

Label HYBE UMG said in its own statement that the decision was made after extensive consultation with medical professionals, who advised Sophia to take time for rest and ongoing care in order to fully recover. The label indicated it will closely monitor her recovery process and reassess the situation in September, after which fans can expect a further update.

The timing is notable, as Katseye is heading into an extremely busy period. The group is performing this weekend at the 88rising Festival: Head In The Clouds in Pasadena and will appear on The Tonight Show on August 12. On August 14, the group is also releasing a new EP called Wild. After that, the sold out WILDWORLD TOUR kicks off on September 1 in Dublin.

For Dutch fans, the situation is especially relevant: Katseye is scheduled to perform on September 11 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam as part of the European leg of the tour. That European run also stops in London, Manchester, Paris, Cologne, Antwerp, and Copenhagen. It is currently unclear in what capacity Sophia will be present at those shows, given that the label will not reassess the situation until September.