EXO Chen garnered mixed reactions following his confirmed appearance at SMTOWN's upcoming live concert in Tokyo.
Keep on reading for all the details.
SM Entertainment Announces SMTOWN Live Concert in Tokyo
On April 25, SM Entertainment announced that they would be holding a live concert, "SMTOWN LIVE 2022: SMCU EXPRESS," in Tokyo, Japan. The show will span two days, August 27 to 28, and will be held at the Tokyo Dome.
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This marks SMTOWN's first offline show in three years since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Along with the official announcement was the line-up. Several groups under the label will participate, such as Red Velvet, aespa, NCT, and Super Junior. TVXQ is also going to be in attendance. Soloists BoA and Kangta will also be performing. DJs Raiden and Gino are also confirmed artists.
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There will be members of groups who will also be in attendance, but the whole group will not be part of the concert. For example, in SHINee, Onew, Key, and Minho will be performing, but Taemin was not part of the line-up. In Girls' Generation, only Taeyeon and Hyoyeon are participating.
In EXO, only Suho, Chen, and Kai will be participating. This marks Chen's first confirmed schedule since his discharge from the military.
EXO Chen's Confirmed Appearance at SMTOWN Live Tokyo Garners Divided Responses
Following Chen's confirmed participation in the upcoming Tokyo concert, South Korean internet users have taken to social media and community forums to share their displeasure. Many were disgusted to see Chen still part of EXO, claiming that he has no conscience.
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The backlash against Chen started in January 2020, when the idol suddenly announced his marriage to his non-celebrity girlfriend, who was pregnant at the time. Many saw the sudden news as betrayal to fans, with other people criticizing the idol for getting his girlfriend pregnant before marriage.
The two were wed in a private ceremony attended by their families and close friends. Chen and his wife welcomed their baby girl on April 29, 2020. They welcomed their second child on January 19, 2022.
ALSO READ: EXO Chen and Non-Celebrity Wife Welcome Their Second Child
Even though they have been married for two years, many are still unwilling to accept Chen back as a member of EXO. Instead, people demand that he leave the group and company, while others believe he should go solo rather than appear as an EXO member.
Other idols who received backlash for their participation in the SMTOWN concert are Kangta, TVXQ's Yunho, and Red Velvet's Irene. People are upset at Kangta's involvement since he was exposed for two-timing in 2019. In Yunho's case, many are upset after he violated social distancing regulations in 2021.
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For Irene, many still have not forgiven her after she was exposed for being rude to a fashion editor in 2020.
What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!
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Alexa Lewis wrote this.
