EXO have officially made their long-awaited comeback with their new studio album REVERXE. However, instead of excitement, the release has been surrounded by controversy from the moment it was announced.

The main reason is the absence of CBX members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, who are currently locked in an ongoing legal dispute with SM Entertainment over contracts and profit distribution.

SM Entertainment previously stated that it was “impossible” for CBX to participate in the comeback due to the lawsuit. Since then, the EXO fandom has been deeply divided, with fans arguing over whether support should go to the remaining members, CBX, or both. That divide has only grown wider following comments made by Chanyeol.

In the “Thanks To” section of REVERXE, Chanyeol publicly thanked SM Entertainment CEO Tak Young Joon, who is directly involved in the legal conflict with CBX.

From the first half of 2025, with the help of so many people, EXO’s 8th full-length album, REVERXE, has finally been released. I would like to sincerely thank CEO Tak Young Joon and everyone at SM from the bottom of my heart.

— EXO’s Chanyeol

While some may see this as a routine professional acknowledgment, many fans interpreted it very differently given the timing and context.