It is clear that some of you have never worked a day in your lives, have absolutely no understanding of how the entertainment industry operates, and even less knowledge of legal procedures when you are engaged in a lawsuit against your employer—one of the most powerful companies in the country and the continent.
If you believe that artists can do whatever they want against SM just because they are 30-year-old adults, I have bad news for you. Why not blame the hundreds of victims of Johnny Kitagawa, who all eventually became 30-year-old adults as well and yet, for the most part, remained silent? After all, they were adults too, right?! It is astonishing how some of you are either that slow-witted or so self-absorbed—take your pick—that you fail to grasp what is happening despite everything unfolding before your eyes.
Let’s go over the chronology:
CBX sued SM in the summer of 2023. Their lawyers stated in their official declarations that SM had underpaid, exploited, and coerced them for years, even emotionally threatening them (as evidenced by the testimony where SM used the well-being of the other members to pressure Baekhyun into signing his contract). It was also stated that this issue had been discussed with all the members and that they were all aware of what CBX intended to do, giving their full approval. A quick reminder: in 2019, during an interview for the Obsession comeback, while Xiumin and Kyungsoo were already serving in the military, the members were asked if they planned to renew their contracts with SM. They responded that they had been discussing it among themselves for a long time and that regardless of whether they stayed with SM or not, they all intended to remain EXO as a group. So, they had been deliberating on this for at least four years, since 2019.
After months of smear campaigns and media attacks aimed at turning the public against CBX and threatening the planned comeback, CBX, through their lawyers' statements and their own posts (which directly contradicted SM’s narrative), reached a settlement and signed an agreement.
Kyungsoo founded his own company, Baekhyun established his own label, and Xiumin and Chen signed with Baekhyun’s agency. As per the negotiation, they were allowed to remain in EXO and work under SM for group activities.
In April 2024, all members (except Lay and those in military service) gathered to celebrate EXO’s anniversary despite tight schedules (such as Baekhyun’s) and exhaustion. They made it a priority to be present.
The following month, plot twist: SM violated the agreement and filed a lawsuit against CBX for some ridiculous reason (so forgettable I don’t even remember it). When CBX learned about this unexpectedly, they had no choice but to strike first by announcing publicly that they were suing SM once again for breaching the contract. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the chance to inform the other members beforehand.
Later, a journalist found it appropriate to question Junmyeon about the issue during a solo schedule that had absolutely nothing to do with EXO. Suho responded vaguely, saying that they were caught off guard because they hadn’t been informed (which I already explained) and that even as the leader, some topics were beyond his control, making it difficult for him to comment. His words were in no way directed against CBX, and time has proven that their relationship remains intact.
However, some so-called “fans” (particularly solo stans of Baekhyun and Chen) irrationally accused Suho of betraying CBX, playing directly into SM’s plan: dividing the fandom and creating a CBX vs. EXO narrative, when in reality, it’s CBX (and EXO) vs. SM.
Of course, Suho’s solo stans retaliated by attacking and blaming CBX, thus fueling a vicious cycle that benefits no one except SM and only causes harm to the group and its members. It all started because some fans spoke before thinking, much like Trump voters blaming minorities for their poverty while protecting the wealthy elites who actually exploit them.
Things then became more complicated. CBX members attended Junmyeon’s concert, proving that there was no bad blood. Baekhyun even asked a fan in the front row to film him, Chanyeol, and Kai enjoying the concert. Clearly, he did this so the fan would post the video. Given subsequent events, it’s evident that something is preventing them from posting photos together. Since the second legal dispute erupted, CBX and the other members have been unable to publicly share pictures with each other…
Over time, public interactions have become increasingly rare. However, external sources and Jongin’s interview yesterday confirm that they still talk and meet. There is undoubtedly legal or SM-imposed pressure preventing them from openly interacting. Given how SM manipulates the media to either erase CBX’s existence or twist their words, I firmly believe the members are staying silent publicly to prevent their words from being weaponized against them or the group.
It has been confirmed that SM is blacklisting Baekhyun from award shows despite his nominations and despite his own declaration that he would attend to perform regardless. With Xiumin’s comeback, SM has once again proven its power by preventing him from performing on music shows under the most absurd and contradictory excuses imaginable.
When CBX was excluded from EXO’s anniversary celebration, some fans immediately jumped to the conclusion that the members hated each other due to the lack of recent public interactions. However, Baekhyun confirmed that he found out at the same time as the fans, and Chanyeol stated the day before that he had no idea what was planned for the anniversary. This proves that none of the members saw SM’s dirty move coming.
That same day, an article revealed that during Jongin’s interview (which SM’s staff had edited), he mentioned having a group chat with Sehun, Chanyeol, and Baekhyun where they talk every single day, completely shattering the paranoia that some overly emotional fans—manipulated by SM’s narrative—had started to believe.
Worse, this revelation confirms that SM deliberately edits out any mention of members interacting with CBX to fuel paranoia among fans and weaken their support.
And to solidify this point, SM used its media influence to have the article edited to downplay Baekhyun’s mention.
If you think the members are doing nothing, you are completely mistaken. Ask yourself: why did a staff member suddenly post a February photo of Sehun and Baekhyun at a photoshoot today? Why did a restaurant owner confirm that Kyungsoo recently visited with EXO members? Clearly, the members cannot directly say they interact, so they use indirect methods to reassure fans without facing the consequences of speaking openly.
Now, for those “fans” still blaming them for being 30-year-old adults who supposedly could say something but don’t—unlike Wendy and others—do I need to remind you of the photos they posted in 2023 to counter SM’s narrative? The way they subtly exposed SM’s emotional abuse during the Rover promo video with Jongin? The not-so-subtle jabs in their Cream Soda YouTube content? They do speak when they can. There is clearly a legal, corporate, or strategic reason for their silence.
Do you really believe that SM and their bot minions online wouldn’t twist every single word they say? We’re talking about SM— the company that, for years, deliberately chose not to protect any EXO members when they were being harassed and defamed. And yes, Wendy spoke up, but she has remained silent ever since. Taeyeon spoke up too, but only to secure better promotions for herself, and after that? Nothing. And let’s be real— neither of them are in a situation where SM is holding their entire group hostage while simultaneously being in a legal battle against three of its members.
Honestly, you should take the time to educate yourselves about similar cases in China, Korea, Japan, or Thailand— learn how public manipulation through the press is used to weaken fan support, how entertainment companies are willing to go to extreme lengths purely out of ego when an artist exposes them or refuses to comply, and how smear campaigns are orchestrated. Have you even paid attention to what happened with TVXQ or NewJeans? If not, I urge you to educate yourselves for once instead of letting your paranoia, emotions, and pessimism take over, leading you to blame the actual victims— CBX and the rest of EXO.
Keep a level head. Stay united. Support EXO as a group. Support them individually while the legal proceedings are ongoing. Trust the members. And place the blame solely on SM, which has always been the one and only problem in this entire situation (since I apparently have to keep repeating it).
Oh, and to some of you— put down your screens, log off Twitter, go outside, find a job, and realize that nothing in life is as simple as you think, no matter how old you are— especially when you’re up against one of the oldest entertainment companies in the country, with immense power over the industry and the press.
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