KATSEYE opened their WILDWORLD arena tour in Dublin with a high-energy performance by four members, despite the group being hit by two absences and fresh concerns over Megan Skiendiel’s ankle injury.
The sold-out show at the 3Arena on Tuesday night saw Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Skiendiel and Yoonchae Jeong perform for almost two hours in front of a largely youthful audience of children, teenagers and their parents.
Avanzini drew particular attention during a solo routine in which she got down on all fours and twerked, while the group delivered intricate choreography throughout the set.
But some fans questioned whether Skiendiel should have been taking part in the physically demanding show after she performed in thigh-high boots despite suffering a sprained ankle less than a week earlier.
KATSEYE cancelled their appearance at Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival in California on August 29 after the injury occurred during tour rehearsals. In a statement shared at the time, the group said Skiendiel had been advised by doctors to stay off the ankle and allow it to heal so she could be ready for the tour.
Her appearance in Dublin prompted concern online. One fan asked: “What kind of magic experiments did they do with her ankle within one week to perform like this?”
Another wrote: “Megan performing on an injured ankle. Won’t last long for the remaining tour!”
A third fan said the demanding lifts and choreography could increase the risk of further injury during a tour lasting several weeks.
Despite the criticism, the opening night was also met with enthusiastic praise. One parent described it as their daughter’s first concert and said the show had taken the “number one position” among the many concerts they had attended.
KATSEYE’s four-member WILDWORLD tour line-up
The Dublin performance marked the beginning of a tour that will take KATSEYE through the UK and Europe before dates in North America and Mexico. The group is scheduled to perform in London on September 3 and 4, followed by a Manchester show on September 6.
However, the European and UK leg is taking place without Sophia Laforteza. Her label, HYBE x Geffen, confirmed that she would not participate in the dates from September 1 to September 17 while she focuses on her wellbeing.
Laforteza had announced a temporary hiatus in August to prioritise her mental health and wellness. Fellow member Manon Bannerman has also been away from group activities since February for health reasons.
The result is a four-member line-up for the opening leg of the tour, with Avanzini, Raj, Skiendiel and Jeong carrying the group’s live commitments.
The absences come as KATSEYE enjoy their strongest period of commercial success. Their latest EP, Wild, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, while tracks including Animal and Hootie Frutti have also charted in the United States.
The group’s stage presentation has already attracted controversy beyond the tour. Last month, some viewers complained about a performance of Hootie Frutti on the Today show, objecting to the members’ revealing outfits and suggestive dance moves.
Similar comments followed the Dublin concert, with one fan joking that the group’s “clothes went on hiatus”, while another questioned whether the members were comfortable performing in outfits resembling lingerie.
Others defended the performers and praised the show’s energy, as KATSEYE began the international tour with their four available members under close scrutiny.
