EXO Comeback Shocker: CBX Accepted All Terms, yet SM Still Excluded Them?
- Disha Paul
- 15 minutes ago
- 2 min read
EXO recently announced their first major comeback since all members completed their military service, triggering excitement across K-pop fandoms.
Yet the joy was short-lived when the official schedule revealed that sub-unit EXO‑CBX (Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin) wouldn’t participate. The absence of CBX from what was billed as a full-group comeback has left fans feeling betrayed and skeptical.
CBX Claims They Did Everything, Yet Still Excluded
CBX’s agency INB100 issued a detailed statement saying the trio:
Met with SM Entertainment on July 9, 2025, to discuss full-group activities.
Exchanged detailed agreements by September 10, 2025.
On October 2, formally accepted all terms set by SM.
Cleared their entire December schedules to prioritize EXO activities.
Despite all that, SM announced the comeback without them.
As CBX concluded in their statement:
“We have been making every effort to fulfil our promise for full-group EXO activities.”
SM Maintains Legal Disputes, Prevents CBX Participation
SM Entertainment responded by saying that the settlement of legal disputes and group activities are separate matters. They claim CBX has not fulfilled a key payment clause: 10% of individual activity revenue from the settlement signed in June 2023.
Further, reports indicate that CBX has lost most of its legal battles against SM, reducing its leverage.
Fan Outrage: “Never OT9”
Fans expected an OT9 reunion, meaning all nine original EXO members would participate. The absence of CBX triggered hashtags like #AlwaysWithOT9 and fierce critique of management. For many EXO-L, this comeback feels incomplete, even disingenuous.
What This Means for the Comeback
Contract disputes and internal drama now overshadow the momentum and hope around EXO’s return. What should have been a triumphant revival now feels like a fractured comeback. While the remaining six members push ahead, the missing trio and unresolved undercurrents may dampen the impact.
EXO’s long-awaited return still carries huge potential, but without Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin, it may not feel like the EXO comeback fans imagined.
The question now is whether SM, CBX, and the fandom can rebuild trust and how that affects the group’s legacy. What are your thoughts on this matter? Will you still support the December EXO comeback despite CBX exclusion? Let us know in the comments!