SM Entertainment, EXO-CBX release statements on exclusion from group comeback

SM Entertainment and EXO-CBX — the sub-unit composed of Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin — have both issued statements amid the controversy regarding EXO's incomplete group activities set for December. 

The trio had been excluded from SM's announcement of EXO's reunion fan meet and the group comeback in the first quarter of 2026 due to their ongoing contract dispute with their former agency.

CBX's new agency INB100 on Wednesday stated that they have been "making every possible effort" to participate in full-group activities.

Both SM Entertainment and CBX have been meeting and negotiating since July, the statement said.

"After the second mediation date (October 2), in order to enable a year-end full-group EXO comeback, CBX clearly conveyed their willingness to accept all conditions presented by SM."

However, when the announcements came out, they saw that Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin were not part of the lineup.

"Accordingly, we plan to finalize the terms for full-group activities as soon as possible," INB100 said.

SM Entertainment responded to the statement, saying that they had stated to the trio in the past that "reaching an agreement to end our legal dispute and [EXO’s] group activities were two separate matters."

On the legal side, the agency said they had already won all their legal disputes with the trio. According to Soompi, courts had dismissed all five lawsuits that Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin had filed against SM Entertainment.

"The only request we made of the trio was that they pay the 10 percent of their revenue from individual activities that was stipulated in our existing agreement from June 18, 2023. However, at present, this has not yet been fulfilled," SM said.

As for the group activities, SM said the "multiple unreasonable lawsuits have not only significantly destroyed trust between our two sides, but have also caused great harm to the group EXO and wounded both the fans and the members."

"Therefore, it was only natural that the trio should first fulfill the terms of the existing agreement and demonstrate a sincere effort to restore trust."

Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin's dispute with SM Entertainment began in June 2023 when they terminated their contract and later filed lawsuits against their former agency for unfair contracts and settlement issues.

On Wednesday, SM Entertainment announced EXO's upcoming group activities after all members complete their military service.

However, only Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, and Lay were announced to participate.

EXO's last group comeback was "Don't Fight The Feeling" in 2021.

Their upcoming album will be EXO's first group project since their album "Exist" in 2023. —JCB, GMA Integrated News