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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Hallyuwood devider Lay Zhang to be absent from EXO's fan meeting

Lay Zhang to be absent from EXO's fan meeting

Published Dec 14, 2025 11:10 am
EXO (X)
EXO (X)

Chinese pop idol Lay Zhang will not be attending K-pop group EXO’s “EXO'verse” fan meeting to be held on Dec. 14. 

EXO will hold their “EXO'verse” fan meeting at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. KST on Dec. 14 at Inspire Arena in Incheon, South Korea. 

SM Entertainment made the announcement on Dec. 14, the day of the fan meeting. 

“Due to unavoidable circumstances, member Lay has been unable to attend the fan meeting. We ask for your understanding and support for this sudden change in participating members,” the agency said. 

His absence will result in five EXO members participating in the fan meeting: Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun. 

Lay Zhang (X)
Lay Zhang (X)
EXO's Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun and Lay (X)
EXO's Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun and Lay (X)
(Top) EXO's Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun and Lay, and (bottom) EXO's Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin, also known as EXO-CBX (X)
(Top) EXO's Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun and Lay, and (bottom) EXO's Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin, also known as EXO-CBX (X)
Lay Zhang (X)
Lay Zhang (X)

In October, EXO’s fan meeting became a big issue among fans when SM Entertainment excluded EXO-CBX members Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin from the event. 

SM Entertainment and EXO-CBX members are embroiled in a court case about their contract and payment. 

Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin are under agency INB100 for their individual activities. For group activities under EXO, they are under SM Entertainment. 

The three K-pop stars previously said they wanted to be a part of the fan meeting. 

“INB100 and our artists Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin (hereafter ‘CBX’) promised fans that as EXO members, they would promote as a full group and are making every effort to achieve this,” the agency said in October. 

It added, “While we were making these efforts for full EXO activities, we came across an announcement regarding an EXO fan meeting and full album release, excluding EXO-CBX.”

SM Entertainment earlier said “We have clearly stated to the three that the agreement to end the dispute and team activities are separate matters.”

“First, regarding the settlement of the dispute, we have won all disputes to date. Our only request to the three was payment of 10 percent of their individual activity revenue as stipulated in the existing agreement dated June 18, 2023. However, this has not yet been fulfilled,” the agency said. 

EXO-CBX said they were willing to pay SM Entertainment.

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