Katseye member Megan Skiendiel’s return to the stage while recovering from a concussion has prompted concern among fans, after footage showed her performing seated and wearing sunglasses in Austin. The videos circulated widely on social media this week, with some questioning whether she should have resumed performing.
In a Nov. 9 post on her personal social media account, Skiendiel said she felt much better but was still recovering and needed precautions. She outlined a modified performance for Austin that would involve less choreography, gentler movement and breaks when necessary. She did not explain what caused the concussion.
The Austin appearance followed several tour postponements. Katseye delayed its Nov. 4 concert at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena moments before the scheduled start, saying Skiendiel was unwell and could not perform. Shows in Chicago and Minneapolis were also postponed. Videos showing ticket holders crying over the announcements attracted hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok.
Footage from Austin showed Skiendiel sitting and watching other members perform an energetic dance routine. Fans, who call themselves Eyekons, questioned the timing of her return, and the popular Instagram account Diet Prada shared footage while asking whether the group was OK. Kesha also expressed concern, commenting on Billboard’s Instagram post about Skiendiel: “This doesn’t feel right to me.”
By Wednesday’s concert in Dallas, social media videos showed Skiendiel performing the full choreography to “PINKY UP,” still wearing dark sunglasses. Addressing the audience, she expressed excitement about being back and thanked fans for their support. “I’m feeling so much better,” she told concertgoers in a clip shared online.
Katseye has six members from four countries: Americans Skiendiel, Daniela Avanzini and Lara Raj, Switzerland’s Manon Bannerman, the Philippines’ Sophia Laforteza and South Korea’s Yoonchae Jeung. Health-related breaks announced this year by Bannerman and Laforteza have meant the group has frequently appeared with four or five members.
The K-pop-influenced act was assembled during the Netflix competition series “Dream Academy: The Debut” by Hybe x Geffen, a partnership between Geffen Records and South Korea’s Hybe Entertainment, home to BTS. Neither the group nor Hybe x Geffen has publicly addressed the recent concerns about Skiendiel. A representative did not immediately answer NBC News’ request for comment on Tuesday.
Calls for the members to rest also appeared beneath a Wednesday social media post thanking Austin fans and looking ahead to Dallas. Instagram commenters urged Hybe x Geffen to prioritize the performers’ health. The tour is expected to continue across the United States through Nov. 24 before concluding with Mexico City dates on Nov. 27 and 28.
Bannerman’s return remains uncertain following the announcement of her temporary hiatus in February. Laforteza, who stepped away in August, is due back in January 2027, according to a Hybe x Geffen statement issued last month. Writing about her recovery on Instagram, Laforteza said she had been receiving care and learning ways to support her well-being.
