![[Exclusive] Katseye’s Manon to miss Coachella](https://www.usintimes.com/uploads/2026/04/09/pinky-up-katseye-afd52c3c_800w.avif)
Katseye’s teaser for its upcoming single Pinky Up dropped on April 2 without Manon Bannerman, the six-member group’s temporary hiatus now spilling into another major release. The omission landed just weeks before the group is due to perform at Coachella in April, leaving open whether Bannerman will be back onstage by then.
Bannerman has been out since Feb. 20, when Katseye’s official social media accounts said she was taking a temporary hiatus from group activities to focus on her health and wellbeing. The group said it would continue scheduled activities while she stepped back, and the new teaser shows that plan has not changed. For fans tracking pinky up katseye, the bigger question is not the single itself but whether one of the group’s most visible members will return in time for the festival run.
On April 2, Forbes reported that Bannerman thanked fans on Weverse for the support she has received, saying she was “really grateful for the patience and kindness” being shown to her. She also said, “HxG and I are having positive conversations and I feel supported,” and added, “I’m happy and I’m healthy. I’ll share more soon. Thank you for always being there for me.” Earlier, she told followers, “I’m healthy, I’m okay, and I’m taking care of myself,” and said, “Thank u for checking in! Sometimes things unfold in ways we don’t fully control, but I’m trusting the bigger picture.”
Katseye has moved quickly since forming on the 2023 YouTube competition series Dream Academy. The global girl group, formed by Hybe and Geffen Records, released its first EP in 2024 and followed with the hit singles Gabriela and Gnarly in 2025. By the time it performed at the 2026 Grammys and picked up two awards nominations, it had become one of the more closely watched new acts in pop.
Bannerman’s absence is not new. She also sat out Katseye’s Lollapalooza performances across Latin America, though Sophia Laforteza gave her a shout-out onstage during the set in Buenos Aires. In February 2026, Bannerman told The Cut that work-life-balance culture in America can be harsh, adding that being called lazy, especially as a Black girl, is not fair. That comment now hangs over the group’s rollout: Katseye is pushing ahead, but one of its members is still making clear that her pace is being set by health, not hype.
For now, the answer to the festival question is simple: it is unclear whether Bannerman will join Katseye at Coachella. What is clear is that the group is not waiting for a reunion to keep moving, and Bannerman herself is telling fans she is okay, supported and not disappearing from the story.
