KATSEYE’s Megan Skiendiel is back on her feet — dancing full choreography — just one day after performing an entire concert seated while recovering from a concussion, Billboard reported on November 12.
Clips captured by Billboard at the group’s Wednesday, November 11 concert in Dallas show the 20-year-old dancing the routines for Billboard Hot 100 hits “Pinky Up” and “Animal” alongside bandmates Lara, Daniela and Yoonchae. The only visible concession to her injury was the dark sunglasses she kept on, presumably to shield her eyes from the bright, flashing stage lights.
The day before, at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, Megan had performed the whole show seated in a raised chair set off to the side of the stage, also wearing sunglasses. She told the Austin crowd she was “feeling so much better,” but fans immediately questioned why a performer recovering from a brain injury was on stage at all.
Before the Austin show, Megan had explained on Weverse that she would perform with “reduced choreography, less intense movement and taking breaks as needed,” saying her doctors had recommended she not “go full out just yet” and that she would “need to be reassessed before returning to unrestricted performances.” Billboard said it has asked KATSEYE’s representatives whether that reassessment has taken place.
Dallas was the group’s second show back after a week of disruption on its WILDWORLD world tour. KATSEYE postponed three shows — Detroit on November 3, Chicago on November 5 and Minneapolis on November 7 — after Megan was diagnosed with a concussion. Detroit was postponed about 30 minutes before showtime, with fans already in their seats.
The Austin staging had already set off fan anger at HYBE and Geffen Records, with fans arguing the show should have been postponed rather than staged with a recovering member. Singer Kesha weighed in on Billboard’s Instagram post about the seated performance, writing, “This doesn’t feel right to me.” That concern has not gone away: under Billboard’s clip of the group performing “Animal,” one fan wrote, “the girl needs TO REST AND HEAL,” while another asked, “How is [allowing] someone with concussion to perform even possible?”
KATSEYE’s next concert is scheduled for November 14 at the Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Whether Megan performs at full strength there — and what her doctors have cleared — remains an open question.
