KATSEYE’s official social media account celebrated Manon’s birthday on June 27, 2026, amid continuing concern about her absence from group activities. The other KATSEYE members also liked the birthday post.

KATSEYE’s Manon Sparks Renewed Debate

The group had recently mentioned that Manon was taking time to rest, suggesting that public support for her remained unchanged despite ongoing speculation about her future.

However, the post soon became the center of another online dispute. According to screenshots and claims circulating in fan communities, people described as Manon’s boyfriend and friends allegedly left mocking comments under the birthday message. The exact context and identities behind the comments have not been independently confirmed.

The controversy reportedly encouraged some of Manon’s most aggressive supporters to target the Instagram accounts of other KATSEYE members with hostile messages. Fans claimed that the behavior had continued for several months rather than emerging only after the birthday post.

Some observers also criticized Manon after images allegedly showed her attending a party during her break. However, attending a private event does not establish the reason for her absence or reveal the state of her health, and neither Manon nor her agency has publicly explained the situation in detail.

The prolonged online attacks have caused frustration even within KATSEYE’s own fandom. Some fans
argued that the remaining members had already demonstrated support by acknowledging Manon’s birthday and liking the official post.

Korean Netizens React

  1. “You could already tell what would happen from the reality show, but they still forced her into the debut lineup. Did they seriously not expect this?”
  2. “If they are going to remove her, they should do it quickly. This is crazy.”
  3. “This is HYBE and Geffen’s fault for forcing someone with no motivation into the group. It also seems like they chose the additional member for KATSEYE’s junior group badly, so honestly, that situation may become interesting too.”
  4. “But if the official account had not congratulated her and the members had not liked the post, people would have said, ‘See, Manon is being bullied!’ anyway, right?”
  5. “What is Manon actually good at? The stage quality is much better without her. The people using this situation are Manon and her friends, because she will be forgotten once public interest in this issue disappears.”
  6. “As time passes, KATSEYE will become more established, while Manon will probably be forgotten by the public.”

For now, KATSEYE’s official birthday message remains the clearest public signal from the group. Until the agency or Manon releases a direct statement, speculation about her membership status should not be treated as confirmed.

Sources: theqoo