**Petition: Boycott HYBE – Demand Justice for Manon Bannerman and an End to the Alleged Mistreatment of KATSEYE’s Only Black Member**

We, the undersigned fans, supporters, allies, and concerned members of the global music community, call for an immediate and sustained boycott of HYBE (including all its subsidiaries, artists, and partnerships such as Geffen Records) until full transparency, accountability, and justice are provided regarding the alleged systemic mistreatment of KATSEYE member Manon Bannerman.

Manon Bannerman, the Swiss-Ghanaian vocalist and the group’s only Black member, has faced years of documented disparities in treatment since her controversial inclusion in KATSEYE via the Netflix docuseries *Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE*. What began as unfair portrayal in the series—painting her as “lazy” or undeserving compared to her groupmates—has escalated into what many see as a deliberate pattern of sidelining, erasure, and institutional neglect. The recent events surrounding her “temporary hiatus,” the new single “Pinky Up,” and public family attacks have pushed this beyond speculation and into a clear call for action.

### Key Allegations of Mistreatment
1. **Contradictory Hiatus Announcement (February 2026)**: HYBE/Geffen and KATSEYE officially announced Manon’s hiatus “to focus on her health and wellbeing” after “open and thoughtful conversations.” Manon herself directly contradicted this on Weverse, stating: “I want to hear this from me: I’m healthy, I’m okay, and I’m taking care of myself.” This disconnect has led fans to question whether the hiatus was truly voluntary or a corporate decision to sideline her amid growing backlash.

2. **Public Signal of Distress – Liking Content About Racism and Label Mistreatment**: Shortly after the hiatus announcement, Manon liked (and reportedly briefly unliked) an Instagram Reel discussing the well-documented pattern of racism and unequal treatment faced by Black women in girl groups (citing examples like Normani from Fifth Harmony and Leigh-Anne from Little Mix). The caption explicitly read variations of: “Another Black girl subjected to racism and label mistreatment yet again.” Her engagement with this post—amid her own documented experiences of online hate, death threats, and label neglect—spoke volumes without her needing to say a word.

3. **Erasure from “Pinky Up” Promotions (March–April 2026)**: KATSEYE recently released teasers and a 5-member promotional video for their upcoming single “Pinky Up” (set for release April 9, 2026). Manon is visibly absent from the teaser despite reports that she participated in the music video filming earlier. Yet elements tied to her (or pre-hiatus imagery) appear in related concept/promotional materials, including the cover artwork. This selective inclusion/exclusion sends a damaging message: the group moves forward without her while still capitalizing on her image where convenient. Fans see this as classic sidelining tactics used against minority members in K-pop and global pop groups.

4. **Manon’s Own Actions Speak Louder Than Words**: Following the 5-member “Pinky Up” teaser drop, Manon removed “KATSEYE” from her Instagram bio entirely. She had previously unfollowed the group’s manager, Missy Paramo (HYBE America Artist Ops, heavily involved in *Dream Academy*). These are not random social media moves—they are deliberate signals from an artist who feels unsupported and disrespected by the very company that debuted her.

5. **Public Attacks from Fellow Member’s Father**: Daniela Avanzini’s father, Rafael Avanzini, repeatedly commented on social media posts about Manon’s hiatus in ways widely perceived as direct attacks. Examples include:
   - “THE SHOW MUST GO ON! With or without a member. KATSEYE is bigger than one girl.”
   - “Come back when you’re ready to work. We need girls who can grind.”
   - Additional comments framing the group as thriving without her.

   These remarks, coming from the parent of a current member, were seen by many as not only unprofessional but racially charged—especially given past resurfaced comments from him that carried inappropriate and racist undertones when comparing Daniela to other Black or non-Korean idols. Instead of protecting all members equally, HYBE has remained silent, allowing this family member to publicly undermine Manon without repercussions.

### Broader Context: A Pattern of Anti-Black Treatment?
Fans and commentators have pointed to a larger pattern:
- Manon being the primary target of racist online harassment and death threats since debut, with insufficient label protection.
- Unequal screen time, promo opportunities, and narrative framing in the Netflix docuseries.
- The group continuing activities (Lollapalooza, upcoming Coachella performance) without addressing her absence or supporting her publicly.

This is not isolated. It echoes experiences of other Black women in global pop groups who are hyped for diversity but discarded when the “image” becomes inconvenient. HYBE, a company that positions itself as innovative and global, has a responsibility to do better—especially after profiting enormously from a multinational, diverse group like KATSEYE.

### Why a Boycott?
HYBE’s silence speaks volumes. No statement addressing the racism allegations, the family attacks, the contradictory hiatus narrative, or Manon’s very public social media disengagement. Instead, they push ahead with 5-member content while Manon is erased from her own group’s rollout. This is unacceptable in 2026.

We demand:
- Full transparency from HYBE/Geffen on the circumstances of Manon’s hiatus and future with KATSEYE.
- Public accountability for the handling of racism and mistreatment claims.
- Protection and support for Manon as an artist, not just a “diversity hire.”
- Concrete changes to prevent this from happening to any future Black or minority members in HYBE groups.

Until these demands are met with real action (not empty statements), we will boycott HYBE entirely: no streams, no merch, no concert tickets, no engagement with any HYBE or HYBE-adjacent artists/projects. Our money and attention will go elsewhere.

Manon deserves better. Black artists in this industry deserve better. Sign this petition, share it widely, and stand with Manon. The show must go on—but not like this.

**#JusticeForManon #BoycottHYBE #ProtectBlackArtistsInKPop**

(Share this petition on Change.org, Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, and Weverse. Tag @HYBE, @KATSEYE, @GeffenRecords, and major K-pop news outlets. Every signature and share counts.) 

This petition description is based on verified public events, social media activity, and widespread fan reporting as of April 2, 2026. We urge HYBE to respond with honesty and humanity.