Sophia Laforteza, a member of the global pop group Katseye, is officially on a temporary break from the band to prioritise her mental health and wellness. The 23-year-old singer will not participate in the European leg of the group's Wildworld Tour, which begins in September 2026. Whether she will rejoin her bandmates Daniela, Lara, Megan and Yoonchae for the North American dates in October has not yet been confirmed.
Why is Sophia taking a break from Katseye?
On August 7th, Hybe x Geffen, the label behind Katseye, emailed fans to announce that Sophia would be stepping back from group activities temporarily. In a statement, the label said: "We understand that EYEKONS were looking forward to seeing Sophia on stage, but it is imperative that her mental health and wellness are prioritised."
The label elaborated: "Sophia has been receiving the utmost support, and 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."
Sophia herself addressed the hiatus on her Instagram stories, writing: "It truly breaks my heart to miss out on a lot" and "making this decision wasn't easy, but I'm learning that health has to come first." She added: "I'm realising 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."
Will Sophia be on Katseye's Wildworld Tour?
On August 30th, the label released a further statement confirming that Sophia will not join Katseye for the European leg of the Wildworld Tour. The statement read: "Sophia will not be participating in THE WILDWORLD TOUR in Europe and the UK" and "The company remains fully committed to providing her with all the support and resources needed."
Sophia responded on Instagram stories: "I can’t express enough how much I want to participate in this tour and perform for you all. I have to remind myself every day that our health and mental well-being should always be prioritized…" She added: "I’ve been in ongoing treatment and doing everything I can to stay healthy, occupied and happy. You can’t pour from an empty cup."
Katseye's history of member breaks
Katseye has previously allowed members to take time off for health reasons. Megan took a break in 2024, and Manon has been on hiatus since February "to focus on her health and wellbeing". Sophia's break follows this pattern, with the label emphasising that medical professionals recommended extended rest for her full recovery.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Sophia will rejoin the group for the North American leg of the Wildworld Tour in October. Fans are advised to check back for updates as the label has not yet announced a specific return date.
