Alleged HYBE x Geffen employee claims Megan and Lara joined management to push Manon out of KATSEYE before LATAM tour: 'It was an active play to remove her'
Just when it seemed like the drama surrounding global girl group KATASYE couldn’t get any messier, a new perspective on Manon Bannerman’s hiatus has gone viral. Remember when Manon was put on hiatus back in February 2026, and most assumed it was simply a case of management stepping in for “health and wellbeing”? That narrative now appears to be only part of the story.A new theory, stemming from a viral post by someone claiming to be a current employee of HYBE x Geffen (HxG), is making the rounds and turning the sisterhood narrative on its head. Forget the image of the girls rallying around Manon. This insider claims the reality was far more complicated and heartbreaking. With Megan and Lara currently under fire in a completely different scandal involving influencer Harry Daniels, this old theory about Manon's hiatus has resurfaced like a bad penny.What does the alleged HYBE X Geffen mployee claim about Manon's hiatus?The story begins with a lengthy text post from an anonymous user who claims to have worked with HxG for the last eight months. According to this person, they have mutual friends with Lara and Megan and have seen the girls both on and off the clock. Their claim is one sentence that sent shockwaves through the fandom: Manon's hiatus was set in place by both management AND the girls.The employee alleges that this was not a protective pause. It was an "active play" to remove Manon from the group entirely. According to "direct sources," the members approached Missy (a key management figure who allegedly never wanted Manon in the group from the start) with a serious complaint. They accused Manon of not being dedicated, acting entitled, and not putting in the work to deserve her center position. The most cutting part? They allegedly said she wasn't up to par for the LATAM tour and didn't deserve to go.The employee also points to a power imbalance, noting that Lara's parents have deep industry roots under UMG (which owns Geffen). This part actually checks out with public facts. Lara's older sister, Rhea Raj, is also a singer-songwriter, and the two sisters literally grew up learning to produce music together. Lara is also the first artist of Indian origin to sign under a HYBE label, which gives her a unique position in the company. With Lara and her sister having their own creative setup under the family umbrella, the source paints a picture of "label royalty" quietly influencing the chessboard.Only a few Geffen staff members and Yoonchae reportedly took Manon's side, arguing she was perfectly ready for LATAM. The post even points to a specific video from the day of the conflict, the same day Manon looked visibly depressed in fan clips, as evidence.For what it is worth, official sources maintain a different story. HYBE x Geffen's February 2026 statement said Manon was taking a "temporary hiatus" after "open and thoughtful conversations together" to focus on her "health and wellbeing". Manon herself wrote on Weverse that she was "healthy" and "taking care of myself," adding that while "sometimes things unfold in ways we don't fully control," she was "trusting the bigger picture".What is going on between Harry Daniels, Megan and Lara?While the Manon theory smouldered in the background, a live fire erupted this week involving the same two names: Megan and Lara. Enter Harry Daniels, a well-known online personality who makes content with celebrities. According to multiple reports, Megan and Lara had formed a visible friendship with Harry through public appearances and online interactions. But that friendship appears to have imploded publicly.The drama kicked off after Harry appeared on the Just Trish podcast with Trisha Paytas and Oscar Gracey. During the episode, Harry discussed conversations connected to Katseye, including Manon's hiatus. He shared that he had spoken with Manon during Coachella, where she reportedly expressed sadness over not performing with the group. Oscar Gracey even said he felt "so relieved" after hearing what was allegedly planned for Manon, though he added, "We can't even repeat it, I guess".Here is where it gets messy. Fans noticed that shortly after this podcast circulated, Megan and Lara reportedly unfollowed Harry on Instagram . The implication was clear: they were distancing themselves from him, probably because he had shared things he was not supposed to share.But Harry did not take the unfollow quietly. Instead of allowing the situation to settle privately, he posted an Instagram carousel filled with personal clips and photos featuring Megan, close selfies, playful moments, party footage, and behind-the-scenes interactions. His caption, "lets work it out on the remix," was widely interpreted as passive aggressive. What made things worse? He reportedly tagged what many believe was Megan's private or spam account, which fans considered invasive.The social media storm has been relentless. Some fans are arguing that Megan and Lara are simply protecting their peace and setting boundaries with someone who leaked private information.Others, however, are pointing to this as a pattern of behaviour, with some alleging Lara and Megan were jealous of Mann.Why was Manon put on hiatus?So, if we follow the employee's breadcrumbs, the real reason for the hiatus wasn't a lack of skill or a simple disagreement. It was a vote of no confidence from the people Manon lived, trained, and dreamed with.According to the anonymous theory, management and the girls allegedly teamed up to throw the hiatus on her like a joint ultimatum. When HYBE caught wind of the conflict, they were reportedly upset that Geffen had let things get so toxic. But it was too late to fix in time for the LATAM tour. HYBE supposedly hoped to fix it by Coachella, but Geffen was already done fighting for her.It is worth noting that this is not the first time tension has been rumoured. During Dream Academy, the survival show that formed Katseye, Manon had previously faced criticism regarding attendance and commitment, topics that resurfaced when the hiatus was announced. Some fans have connected her hiatus to what they see as a pattern of mistreatment of Black women in girl groups, comparing her situation to Normani in Fifth Harmony or Leigh-Anne Pinnock in Little Mix.Manon herself reportedly liked an Instagram post discussing the specific challenges and frequent mistreatment of Black women in girl groups, though that interaction has not been independently verified .But here is what we actually know for sure. Official statements from HYBE x Geffen consistently describe the hiatus as temporary and health related. The group has continued as five members, performing at Coachella 2026 and announcing a new EP called "WILD" for an August 14 release. Manon was not included in the album production.What did members say about Manon's absence?In an April 2026 interview before Coachella, Sophia and Lara addressed Manon's absence. Sophia stressed professionalism despite difficult circumstances, while Lara referred to Manon as their "sister forever" and emphasised giving her space . Lara specifically said, "We just want to give her all the space and love she needs right now" .The anonymous employee's most heartbreaking claim is the final line. After seeing Manon's public support and reflecting on a "history of mistreatment and feeling betrayed," the source claims that is exactly why she is not returning. Not because she is not talented. Not because she did not show up to practice. But because the sisterhood broke her heart before management ever got involved.Whether you believe the anonymous employee or not, there's something definitely bigger going on behind-the-scene that fans know; however, for now, it's all just theories.
