Global girl group KATSEYE has pulled out of Olivia Rodrigo's inaugural Daisy Chain Fields music festival after member Megan Skiendiel suffered an ankle injury during rehearsals.
The six-member pop group announced on August 27, 2026, that Skiendiel sprained her ankle during tour rehearsal the previous day. Following an evaluation by doctors, medical professionals advised the performer to stay off her foot to ensure it properly heals ahead of the group's upcoming tour.
In a statement shared to their Instagram Stories on August 27, KATSEYE expressed deep disappointment at being unable to perform on the all-women festival lineup, which features Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Stevie Nicks and Sarah McLachlan.
Festival Withdrawal and Replacement
"We know how much our fans were looking forward to seeing us, and it breaks our hearts to disappoint anyone who made plans to be there," the group wrote. "We were especially excited for Daisy Chain Fields because it's not just about music, but the greater mission of joy and community."
The band sent their love to Rodrigo as well as the participating artists, non-profit organizations and volunteers who helped organize the event, adding that they look forward to seeing fans on tour. Musician Devon Again has been brought in to replace KATSEYE on the festival lineup.
Recent Bandmate Hiatuses
Skiendiel's injury marks the latest health setback for the group. Three weeks before withdrawing from the festival, KATSEYE announced that group leader Sophia Laforteza would temporarily step back from the group in August 2026 to focus on her physical and mental health and wellness.
Earlier in the year, record labels Hybe and Geffen Records revealed in February 2026 that member Manon Bannerman would also take a temporary hiatus to focus on her health and wellbeing.
The group has publicly offered full support for their bandmates during their temporary leaves. Speaking during an August 14 appearance on NBC's Today show, member Lara Raj emphasized that KATSEYE prioritizes personal wellbeing above all else.
"As KATSEYE, it's so important to us to always prioritize our well-being," Raj said on the program. "We stand by Sophia and Manon through and through. We ride for them. We love you guys so much, always."
Formation Through Dream Academy
KATSEYE was formed in 2023 through the reality competition series The Debut: Dream Academy, a joint venture between South Korean entertainment company Hybe, the label behind BTS, and American company Geffen Records.
Selected from 120,000 applicants worldwide, 20 contestants underwent extensive training to create what Hybe chairman Bang Si-hyuk described as "an international group based on K-pop methodology." The process and yearslong candidate training were chronicled in the Netflix docuseries Pop Star Academy: Katseye.
Sophia Laforteza and Lara Raj
Group leader Sophia Laforteza was born to actress Carla Guevara Laforteza and chef Godfrey Laforteza on December 31, 2002. Representing the Philippines, she began her career at age five performing alongside her mother on the talk show She Said, She Said. Laforteza placed first in the Dream Academy finale with an overall top score of 88.33 after consistently impressing judges and fans.
Lara Raj, who suggested spelling the group's name with a K, was born in Connecticut on November 3, 2005. She spent her early childhood in Dallas, Texas, taking vocal, acting and dance training before performing with the Septien Entertainment Group at venues including the House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, American Airlines Center and Six Flags.
After moving to New York City to attend the Professional Performing Arts School and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, Raj appeared in a 2018 episode of The Blacklist. Scouted on social media after producers sought "a vocalist that will sell out stadiums," she placed second in Dream Academy with a score of 82.67.
Daniela Avanzini and Yoonchae
Daniela Avanzini was born on July 1, 2004, and started performing at an early age. Before joining Dream Academy, the American contestant competed on America's Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation, and appeared in a 2013 episode of The Queen Latifah Show on an "America's Most Talented Kids" segment. Recognized by producers as the competition's strongest technical dancer, Avanzini placed third in the finale with a score of 79.00.
Yoonchae was born Jeung Yoon-chae in South Korea on December 6, 2007. Inspired by K-pop groups like BLACKPINK, she trained for two years with management agency WakeOne as a tween. At age 15 during Dream Academy, she noted that learning about other members' cultures and mastering English were her biggest hurdles. "Of course, another challenge for me was embracing English as a language, especially since I was not used to it before," Yoonchae told Billboard Philippines in 2025. "I'd like to think that I made some progress there." She finished fourth in the finale with a score of 78.00.
Megan Skiendiel and Manon Bannerman
Hawaiian native Megan Skiendiel was born on February 10, 2006. Prior to Dream Academy, she accumulated acting credits including an extra role in the 2015 film Jurassic World and minor parts on television shows Raven's Home, Sydney to the Max and Bosch: Legacy. As one of the earliest candidates to train in Pop Star Academy, Skiendiel placed fifth in the finale with a score of 68.33. She previously took a brief break in September 2024 due to a back injury related to scoliosis.
Manon Bannerman was born Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman in Switzerland on June 26, 2002. She began using her middle name at age 15 while studying abroad in the United States, telling Swiss-German newspaper Tages-Anzeiger in 2023, "At school, they pronounced Meret so strangely. So I switched to Manon. That worked better." Scouted on social media by Hybe casting manager Michelle Kim while living in Switzerland, Bannerman moved to Los Angeles to train despite having little prior dance experience. She was the final member added to KATSEYE, placing sixth in the competition with a score of 68.00.
