Katseye's Manon Likes Video on Alleged Mistreatment of Black Members: Is She Really on Hiatus?

It was one tap on a screen. A single Instagram like. But for thousands of KATSEYE fans who had spent the previous 24 hours trying to decode what was really going on with Manon Bannerman, it landed like a confession.

On 22 February, the 23-year-old Swiss singerliked an Instagram reel captioned 'Another Black girl subjected to racism and label mistreatment yet again.'The video, by social media creator Simply Simone, drew parallels with Normani from Fifth Harmony and Leigh-Anne Pinnock from Little Mix,Koreaboo reported.

The like arrived barely a day after HYBE x Geffen Records confirmed on Weverse that Manon would be 'taking a temporary hiatus from group activities to focus on her health and wellbeing.' The label said it followed 'open and thoughtful conversations.' Corporate. Measured. Exactly what you'd expect.

Manon's own statement on Weverse read nothing like that.

'I want you to hear this from me,' she wrote. 'I'm healthy, I'm okay, and I'm taking care of myself. Sometimes things unfold in ways we don't fully control, but I'm trusting the bigger picture.'

That phrase. 'In ways we don't fully control.' Fans latched onto it immediately. It did not sound like someone choosing to step back. It sounded like someone being careful with her words.

Manon of KATSEYE likes a post that calls out the mistreatment and racism of black members in girl groups."Another Black girl subjected to racism and label mistreatment yet again"pic.twitter.com/BLS7wZDXtr

The fandom was already in turmoil before Manon touched that reel. Shortly after the hiatus was confirmed, video creator Patty Eminger posted a clip claiming Manon was leaving for good. Underneath it,Rafael Avanzini, the father of fellow KATSEYE member Daniela, left a comment fans would not soon forget.

'THE SHOW MUST GO ON! With or without a member. KATSEYE IS BIGGER THAN ONE GIRL,' he wrote,The Express Tribune reported.

It got worse. When a fan insisted the group has six members, he replied '5 is ok too.' Separately, he wrote 'Come back when you ready to work,'Sportskeeda noted. All were deleted, but screenshots had already been archived and shared widely.

Source: International Business Times UK