Chinese EXO member Lay (Zhang Yixing) has personally explained why he was absent from EXO’s fan meeting on the day of the event. The 34-year-old K-pop star addressed fans directly after his sudden non-appearance raised concerns and rumors.
On December 14, the day EXO held their fan meeting “EXO’verse” at Incheon Inspire Arena, Lay shared a message on his Weibo account. He explained that he had to urgently return to Beijing to attend an important event at China’s National Theatre.
The EXO member reassured fans by saying he arrived safely and asked them not to worry. He also offered a sincere apology, saying he was sorry to fans and to the EXO members for the inconvenience caused by his absence.
The fan meeting marked EXO’s first time meeting fans since the members completed their military service. Expectations were especially high for Lay, as this was meant to be his first major group activity after rejoining EXO following a prolonged hiatus. He had taken part in rehearsals just one day before the event, which made his absence even more surprising.
SM Entertainment announced Lay’s absence only about five hours before the fan meeting, citing “unavoidable circumstances.” As a result, the event went ahead with five members: Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun. Lay was the only member missing from the stage that day.
After the agency’s brief notice, Lay personally clarified the situation on Weibo, apologizing again to fans, the members, and the company. Despite his explanation, the timing of the sudden international flight led to intense online speculation. Some fans questioned whether his absence was connected to broader political issues rather than scheduling alone.
Much of the discussion centered on the possibility of China’s long-standing unofficial Hallyu ban, which has limited Korean cultural activities in China since 2016. Fans also pointed to recent cases where K-pop events were disrupted due to geopolitical tensions, including cancellations in China involving groups with Japanese members.
Following the event, SM Entertainment announced full refunds for fans affected by the change.
On the bright side, SM announced EXO’s comeback date for their 8th full-group album, REVERXE, scheduled for January 19, 2026. The upcoming promotions are planned with six members: Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, and Lay. Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin will not participate due to their ongoing dispute with the agency.
