On April 8, 2025, EXO, the iconic K-pop group under SM Entertainment, marked its 13th anniversary since debuting in 2012. This milestone, however, has been overshadowed by significant controversy. The announcement of the anniversary celebrations prompted backlash from fans who accused the group and the label of neglecting important members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin (collectively known as CBX), who departed from SM Entertainment in 2023.
Fans voiced their dissatisfaction on X, critiquing SM Entertainment for prioritizing merchandise sales over acknowledging the group’s anniversary. This tension heightened as it appeared that the current members were not making any mention of CBX in their celebrations. The response from followers was immediate and intense. Below are some notable reactions:
“Please post a congratulatory post for the 13th anniversary. Don’t just sell stuff.”
“It’s surprising not to see any anniversary wishes this year… but it seems like financial matters have taken center stage.”a user wrote
“merchie is merchbotting no greeting for the anniversary just ‘give us money for crap you don’t even need'”a fan wrote
“want the turntable player so bad but give us cbx and I’ll think about it <3”another fan wrote
EXO has been on hiatus from group activities since around 2020 as members have taken time for individual pursuits, especially due to military enlistments. Currently, only Oh Se-hun, the youngest member, is yet to fulfill his military duties.
“Soo.. there is kai, cy and suho.. why no kyungsoo? And secondly… WHY ISNT CBX THERE?!”a fan replied
“i’m sorry if i was cbx i would be pressing charges, because the fact that sm is excluding them from exo activities even though chen, baekhyun, and xiumin are all contractually and legally still apart of exo has be a breach of the court ruling.”another fan wrote
“I’m sorry but where’s the rest??😭 My intro to exo was literally through Xiumin and Baekhyun. At this rate, SHINee’s anniversary party will look like THIS because SM is TRASH”a user wrote
Analyzing the Backlash Against EXO and SM Entertainment
Historically, SM Entertainment has faced criticism regarding how it handles its artists. The exit of Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin in 2023 was largely attributed to contractual disputes and financial grievances with the company, leading to their association with another label, INB100. D.O., another prominent member, has also moved on to join a different label called Company Soo Soo.
Despite these departures, these four members affirmed their commitment to EXO and expressed intentions to remain involved with the group. However, the recent anniversary merchandise dropped by the label only featured items for Suho, Chanyeol, and Kai, further alienating fans who feel that CBX is being unjustly sidelined during this significant occasion.