SM Entertainment and EXO-CBX, the subunit composed of Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, released separate statements addressing the ongoing controversy surrounding EXO’s upcoming reunion without the trio.
On Wednesday, Oct. 29, through its agency INB100, EXO-CBX said in a statement that they had made “every possible effort” to join EXO’s planned year-end activities, even agreeing to all conditions proposed by SM Entertainment during mediation earlier this month.
“CBX clearly conveyed their willingness to accept all conditions presented by SM,” the statement read, adding that the members were surprised to be excluded from SM’s recent announcements.
SM Entertainment responded that the settlement of CBX’s legal dispute is “a separate matter” from EXO’s group schedule, citing a breakdown of trust caused by “multiple unreasonable lawsuits.”
The company said it had already won all five legal cases filed by the trio and reiterated that CBX has yet to fulfill its contractual obligation to remit 10 percent of revenue from individual activities.
The dispute dates back to June 2023, when the three members terminated their contracts with SM citing unfair terms. EXO’s upcoming fan meeting in December and eighth album, slated for early 2026, will move forward with six members Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, and Lay.
