“Crazy Bastard” EXO Star’s Photo With Fans Sparks Scathing Mockery
Korean netizens have reignited their backlash toward EXO’s Chen after the singer shared photos from his recent, tight-knit fan sign event.
Chen, who left SM Entertainment to join INB100 alongside fellow members Baekhyun and Xiumin last year, took to X this week to share photos from a Ktown4u fan sign for his latest album, Arcadia, expressing his happiness at meeting fans after a long time.
The photos quickly caught attention online as Korean netizens quoted the post with disbelief, seemingly referring to the event’s small turnout.
아니시발엑소가이렇게 https://t.co/OujnTAYlsT
— 악개년 (@SUlyqCCoMDr9465) October 18, 2025
No way EXO’s like this now.
— @SUlyqCCoMDr9465on X
Only around 20 women, a mix of Korean and international fans, can be seen in the photo alongside Chen. While in-person fan signs are typically small and more intimate, the original Weverse notice for the event previously advertised that there would be 30 winners.
와… 엔시티 불러도 이거보다 많을지도… ㅠㅠ
아자스…ㅜㅜㅜㅜ https://t.co/gdacfTEd0y— Xival (@X0159521663941) October 18, 2025
Wow… even if they called NCT, there’d probably be more people than this… ㅠㅠ
— @X0159521663941 on X
In comparison, labelmate Baekhyun’s own Ktown4u fan sign earlier this year had a noticeably larger attendance. Chen’s fan sign was held for his latest album, Arcadia, which sold 13,576 copies in its first week — a significant drop from his previous album, Door, which reached over 79,000 sales during the same period.
Beyond the event itself, the photos appear to have reignited frustrations among Korean fans regarding Chen’s personal life. In January 2020, Chen announced his marriage and impending fatherhood, sparking intense controversy among netizens. He now has two daughters with his wife, a non-celebrity named Mi Hee.
In response to Chen’s post, numerous netizens expressed their disdain for a married father continuing his idol activities, criticizing him for EXO’s current situation.
와 애아빠 앉아가지고 팬싸하고미친다미쳐 https://t.co/z1F7zl5gG1
— 휘풍이 (@hwipung) October 18, 2025
Wow, a dad sitting there doing a fansign. This is insane, seriously.
— @hwipung on X
근데 저기가서 뭔얘기함
오빠 애기는 잘크고있어요…?..? https://t.co/WCO4VPFrxv— 경 (@gyeong336086) October 18, 2025
But what do you even talk about there?
Like, ‘Oppa, is your baby growing up well…?’— @gyeong336086 on X
아 진심 엑소 개불쌍해ㅠㅠ 템포로 다시 1군 간 좀 볼라니까 미친 대디새끼가 축복이를 데려옴 좀 잊혀질라니까 둘째를 데려옴 최종붕괴는 결혼식에서 와이프한테 팬송을 불러줌ㅋㅋ 저새끼가 다죽자의 시작임 https://t.co/ocVfLcSo4O
— 댐잇 (@qudtlstit77) October 18, 2025
Ugh seriously, I feel so bad for EXO. Just when they were starting to climb back to top-tier status with ‘Tempo’, that crazy daddy bastard brought out his baby ‘blessing.’ Just when people were starting to forget, he brought out a second kid. The final collapse was when he sang a fan song to his wife at their wedding ㅋㅋ That guy was the beginning of everything being doomed.
— @qudtlstit77 on X
On the flip side, other netizens pointed out that Chen has it all despite what fans may say: marriage, children, fame, and an enviable income.
첸이 승자다
연애하다 결혼해서 애도 낳고
아이돌 활동도하면서 돈도벌고
완전 개갓생남이노 https://t.co/LdJCwcuaPJ— 역삼동bl퀸카, 이해•우울•공감호소인, 좆됨니스트, KG, (인터넷 도사) (@mylifeisuck) October 18, 2025
Chen is the real winner.
He dated, got married, had kids,
still does idol activities, and makes money.
He’s totally living the god-tier life.— @mylifeisuck on X
Last month, EXO teased a possible full-group comeback in December 2025. Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, however, are still embroiled in a legal battle with SM Entertainment.
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