Fans attending EXO's concert in Vancouver were faced with a dangerous situation, leading to concerns ahead of the group's upcoming concert stops in Chicago and Newark.
During the Vancouver concert on Friday night, EXO's members were forced into a situation where they were repeatedly asking fans to step back from the stage due to safety concerns. According to firsthand accounts from the performance, EXO led a chant of "One Step Back" during the concert on two occasions so as to urge fans to leave breathing space.
Videos from the event showed EXO trying to turn the situation into a joke, despite the serious situation.
"I feel like there are a lot of people coming in front," said Baekhyun to the audience through a translator.
"People who are in the very front, I think at least 50 people are going to the Emergency Room. You know what? People standing at the back are going to see us better than you guys [in the front.]... But because you're all packed in the very front, I feel like you can't see very well. So for your safety, can you just take one step back? One step back again please?"
Other members of EXO picked up the chant and asked the fans to step back, with Chanyeol dancing while urging fans forward.
After the concert, a handful of fans opened up a "SORRY EXO" fan page on Facebook, expressing an apology towards EXO for the behavior of fans at the concert that led to concern.
Local paper Vancitybuzz reported that fans had to be evacuated due to mild injuries and described EXO as begging their fans to remain calm.
The situation is not new to North American fans of K-pop. A 2013 show featuring INFINITE in New York City resulted in similar instances of K-pop idols asking fans to remain safe and eventual resulted in the group members telling the audience that they would have to stop the show if fans continue to endanger other concert goers. A changed venue and raised awareness of the previous concert's issues helped ensure that the audience wasn't as intense at last month's INFINITE concert in New York City.
EXO will perform in Chicago on Friday then finish the North American leg of their EXO'luXion tour in Newark on Sunday.
Tamar Herman is a multi-media journalist and the co-founder of KultScene. She is a freelance writer and copy editor, and has written for MTV Iggy, Noisey and Paste Magazine.
