Another member of KASTEYE is stepping away from the group.
On Friday (August 7), Sophia Laforteza announced in a statement shared on her Instagram Story that she is taking a temporary leave of absence from the girl group to focus on her mental health.
The 23-year-old singer wrote, “It truly breaks my heart to have to miss out on a lot. You know how much I love being on stage, performing, and sharing these moments with you. Making this decision wasn’t easy, but I’m learning that health has to come first. I’m realizing 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.”
“Thank you for being so patient, understanding, and always showing me so much love,” Sophia continued. “It means more to me than I could ever say. I promise I’m going to work as hard as I can to get through this, heal properly, and come back stronger.”
She added, “’Til then, please continue to be kind and give KATSEYE all your love and support as we fulfill our promise to show up for you in every way we can. I’ll be here as one of the Eyekons in the meantime with y’all, See you soon.”
Sophia‘s temporary exit from KASTEYE comes just one week before the release of their new EP Wild, due out on August 14.
Then in a statement shared on Weverse, the group also addressed Sophia‘s decision to step back from the group
“We are very sorry to share that Sophia will be temporarily unable to participate in upcoming promotional activities. We understand how much EYEKONS were looking forward to seeing Sophia on stage, but it is imperative that her mental health and wellness are prioritized.
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. While Sophia herself is eager to perform alongside her members, the health, safety, and long-term well-being of our artists will always remain our highest priority.
We will continue to closely monitor her progress and support her journey. We plan to reassess her condition in September and will share a further update with fans at that time.
We sincerely appreciate your understanding and continued support for Sophia, and we look forward to her being back with KATSEYE.”
Earlier this week, Sophia was noticeably missing from the premiere of their new movie KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS in Los Angeles. At the time, the ladies that did attend the premiere said that Sophia was “sick” and wasn’t able to be there.
Last month, Sophia also dropped out of performing with KATSYE at the 2026 Hinterland Music Festival in Iowa,
Sophia is now the second member of KATSEYE to take a step back from the band after Manon Bannerman announced her own temporary leave of absence. In June, Sophia addressed rumors surrounding Manon‘s hiatus.
Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, and Yoonchae are all still a part of KATSEYE.
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