As the global girl group Katseye, known for their songs Gnarly, Gabriella, Touch, and more, hit the Coachella desert, they noticeably came out as a group of five rather than their usual six. The absence of the fan-favorite member, Manon Bannerman, has been scrutinized under a magnifying glass for the past few months, and her absence from the group further sparked controversy within the fanbase.
Looking back to February of this year, HybexGeffen, the group’s label, posted that due to health and well-being, Bannerman would be taking a hiatus from the group. Hours later, Bannerman posted, stating that she is “healthy, [..]. ok, and taking care of myself.” Original concern for the performer came from the polarizing viewpoints stated in social media posts. Fans noticed that HYBExGEFFEN’s posts were contradictory when it came to comparing Manon’s and the label’s views on her hiatus as causes. This led to racism allegations as fans pointed out the music industry’s past racism against African American women in girl groups.
Manon was raised by her Swiss-Italian mother and Ghanaian father in Switzerland, making her a target for online racism. While not confirmed, large speculation has said that she and other members’ mental health is suffering because of online backlash.
Throughout her mental health leave, Manon has not appeared in Katseye and has stayed out of group activities, including the group’s Coachella performance, sponsorship promotional videos, and their new single “Pinky Up.” As the group launches their new brand and song, they face backlash for Manon’s absence and their new, Y2K look.
“As much as I love the group, their recent songs and fashion choices are throwing me off. Honestly, this new era is just following the trend that made them famous, but I’m ready to see that change,” junior Olivia Szeman said. While some fans adore this new look, many long for the old Katseye back when they were promoting “Soft Is Strong,” as it displayed both their dancing and vocal talent to the world. Fans have gone as far as to say that their distaste for the new era comes from their hate towards HYBExGEFFEN and the alleged mistreatment of the Katseye girls.
“It saddens me so much to see my girls be dampened. They used to shine so bright. Because of their label, they are forced to wear dumb costumes and sing songs I would think are AI-generated,” an anonymous student said.
Moreover, some fans are excited for Manon’s new era after she escapes from HYBExGEFFEN. On multiple occasions, she’s been spotted, including her recent campaign with Tommy Hilfiger alongside F1 driver Sergio Pérez. Racing on the track, fans noticed her and seemed thrilled to hear she would continue to stay in public view. One of her biggest appearances happens to be Coachella, though not with her group. In fact, she was seen on stage during pop star PinkPantheres’ set. However, fans found it odd that she was not performing with the other members, Sophia, Lara, Megan, Daniella, and Yoonche, as she was set to return from her hiatus then, according to HYBExGEFFEN.
Manon has continued to communicate with her fans via social media. The world looks forward to seeing her shine, whether that be in a group or personal capacity, and wishes her the best of luck in the journey ahead.
