Katseye is finally back onstage, but the return is hitting a sour note with fans.
The Grammy-nominated girl group resumed their Wildworld Tour on Tuesday, Nov. 10, with a show in Austin, Texas, following a string of concert cancellations due to member Megan Skiendiel's head injury.
The dance-pop outfit, which currently consists of Skiendiel, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj and Yoonchae Jeung, was forced to postpone three performances last week after Skiendiel suffered a concussion. In a follow-up statement, Skiendiel confirmed that she would be returning for the Austin concert, but in a limited capacity as she continues her recovery.
"While I'm feeling so much better, I am still actively recovering from my concussion, so I'll need to take some precautions
as I continue to heal," Skiendiel, 20, said in a Nov. 9 post on the group's Instagram stories. "I'll be performing on a modified schedule. This means reduced choreography, less intense movement and taking breaks as needed. I won't be going full out just yet!"
Despite her commitment to the tour, Skiendiel's performance has drawn controversy online, with many fans expressing concern for the singer's health as she returns to the demands of pop stardom.
Katseye, which was formed in 2023 on the reality competition series "Dream Academy," consists of six members: Skiendiel, Avanzini, Raj, Jeung, Manon Bannerman and leader Sophia Laforteza. Both Laforteza and Bannerman have been on hiatus for the past several months as they focus on their health.
Katseye's next concert is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Katseye tour comeback divides fans amid Megan's recovery
Following Katseye's performance in Austin, several fans took to social media to criticize Skiendiel's return to the stage amid her recovery. Clips of Skiendiel performing while seated in a chair have prompted scrutiny of the group's workload.
"Honestly, how did anyone think this was a good idea?" @dailylaforteza wrote on X. "She's clearly not OK, and even though she's sitting down, she's still exposed to those strong lights, loud music and screaming crowds."
"Katseye [is definitely] doing an exposé documentary in like 10 years," @playboixcarson commented. "Having Megan perform like that is wild ... I'm disgusted."
"Megan, just fake faint onstage, like this is not worth it baby," @whateverdatmean wrote.
"They're literally working these girls to death," @tyl0saur commented. "And then [you] check their socials, and they're like, 'We love work! We love company! We don't want to stop or rest! We love work!' And the fans are like, 'See? she's fine.'"
However, other fans applauded the strength of Skiendiel's performance despite her recent injury, as well as praised the girl group for their camaraderie.
"Megan [is] serving face and vocals from a CHAIR," @Eyekonduh wrote on X.
"Megan has the best members ever," @dailymeiyok commented. "She needs to be in the chair for her health and well-being, but that didn't stop Dani, Lara and Yoonchae from making sure Megan was still part of the performance."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Katseye singer Megan Skiendiel returns to tour amid concussion recovery
