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SMTOWN Live Suwon: Did EXO's Chen get booed for being MARRIED? Photos of 'black ocean' fuel rumors

A lot of Korean K-pop fans had petitioned to get Chen kicked out of EXO for being married and having two children

SUWON, SOUTH KOREA: SMTOWN Live concert at Suwon World Cup Stadium finally returned after 5 years and Korean fans thronged to get tickets for it. We had all of Girls’ Generation reuniting as well as exciting collab stages from BoA and NCT’s Ten to the SMRookies 2022’s first performance. However, the SMTOWN Live Suwon concert was bittersweet for EXO fans as we did get five active members but they performed individually while Sehun was missing. But many were worried for member Chen who has been pretty much blacklisted by Korean fans for being married.

While being dropped for getting married seems absurd for international fans, dating and marriage are considered taboo in K-pop. Toxic fans feel that they have been betrayed and feel they have a say in the idol’s private life since they invest so much money in them. When Chen first announced his marriage and the birth of his two children, Korean EXO-Ls (EXO’s fandom) petitioned to kick him out of EXO. And it looks like it will still take some time for them to warm up to him as the audience reaction at SMTOWN Live Suwon concert was not as great as a talented singer like Chen deserved.

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Did Chen get a black ocean?

Rumors started spreading that a majority of the audience at SMTOWN Live in Suwon had turned off their lightsticks to create a black ocean when Chen came on stage. A black ocean at ensemble concerts is a petty way to let the performing artists know that the audience does not want them. There were also rumors that Chen was booed and that everyone ignored him while he was on stage for his segment. Many fans present claimed that the audience was also deliberately silent when Chen gave his ending ment (speech).

But that might not be the case as EXO-Ls think that these rumors were spread by antis and trolls. The photos of the black ocean, where it is night and the audience has turned off their lightsticks, seem to be edited. Chen’s performance took place in the daytime and photos from other angles show bright lightsticks. However, while the videos showed that no one booed him, the cheering and clapping were relatively less, which saddened EXO-Ls. It seems that some fans who were still angry at Chen for being married had tried to bring down the energy but had only partly succeeded.

This was not the case in London and Sydney when Chen attended HallyuPopFest in the two cities, giving rise to claims that only Korean fans hold a grudge against him for getting married. It seems that the EXO member also doesn’t mind as he later came online and left a message, “It was a meaningful day for me because it’s been a while since I said hello to you on stage. Thank you! How was it for you? I hope your day will remain as a good memory and I hope you enjoy the concert until the end!”

‘Don’t listen to what anybody says’

Knetizens left comments like, “He should be at home watching after his kid, why is he out singing? ㅋㅋ Just go do karaoke with your wife,” “Ah f*****ck Jongdae yah please screw off.. We're begging you at this point.. Ok? Go solo, we'll support you. Please get out,” and “I used to like EXO in the past, but why did Chen turn out like that... Seriously what a shame.”

However, international fans have his back. One said, “Don't spread misinformation next time. all the lightsticks were on and op obviously edited the contrast to make it look like that.” Another EXO-L added, “The cheers were fs not as loud but he didnt get a single boo and the crowd was still relatively active tbh.” One fan reasoned, “Actually, there is no black 0cean in Chen's performance, there are still many lightsticks that are lit. Then why is it dark? That's because the lights there are turned off. Chen sings ballads, and ballad songs usually turn off the lights, just the lights on the stage to highlight the artist.”

One fan responded to his message, “Good to know he focuses on normal fans who are there for his music, not for their own delusions and sick feeling of ownership.” Fans also shared some of the positive comments left by Knetz, sharing that there were still some Korean fans who supported him, “Chen is receiving so many compliments from non fans who went to sm concert yesterday about his singing I was checking the korean side of Twitter and here is some.” One wrote, “Dont listen to what anybody says about it cuz this was the arena as jongdae walked out on stage and started singing.” Another shared, “OMG THE CROWD CHEERS WHEN JONGDAE SAID ANNYEOGHASEYO EXO CHEN IMIDA.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.