EXO's Event Poster Receives Backlash After Lay Was Edited Out + SM Entertainment Cancels EXO Concert In February

K-pop fans are thrilled to learn that EXO will be holding a special Lotte Duty Free event in China. But the excitement is short lived and the event receives backlash instead. The reason: the promo photo that is being used for the event.

Lotte Duty-Free has recently revealed an EXO event that is scheduled to be held in China. However, the announcement has been receiving criticisms since it was released because of the image that comes with the promotion.

Many EXO-Ls immediately recognized the snap and it is different from the original photo that they have remembered. The image features the eight members of the band-Suho, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, Xiumin, and Chen-in white suits. However in the original image from a photoshoot back in 2017, Lay is in it and he is standing next to Xiumin. See the promo poster below. 

Many EXO fans understand that Lay may have been removed in the photo because of the THAAD issue between South Korea and China. Lay is a Chinese national. THAAD is a U.S. anti-missile system designed to protect South Korea and Japan from missile attack. China is against this system claiming THAAD is a threat to their country.

However, what many EXO fans are puzzled about is why SM Entertainment and Lotte Duty-Free did not use a different photo of the group instead of editing Lay out. Many pointed out that EXO could easily have a photo shoot to avoid controversy by using an old group photo but editing out Lay.

"LOTTE DUTY FREE really had the audacity to erase Yixing out of a pic for an event for Chinese fans. Wtf? Just use another one with 8 of them if Yixing cannot attend," one fan commented.

Another news that makes EXO-Ls upset is the cancellation of EXO concert in February. Apparently, KSPO Dome, the venue for the EXO event has already confirmed that SM Entertainment has canceled its reservation for the concert of the "Don't Mess Up My Tempo" singers next month.

Koreaboo reported how EXO-Ls found out about the cancellation. An EXO fan asked KSPO Dome on its Official Kakotalk account about the concert and it confirmed that SM Entertainment has already canceled the event. Many EXO-Ls are disappointed in the latest development while others are hoping that the EXO Planet 5 tour is only pushed back on a later day and not entirely canceled by SM.

For now, EXO-Ls can watch their favorite K-pop group in the second season of the reality show Travel the World on EXO's Ladder. In Season 2, the group travels to Taiwan to explore Kaohsiung and Kenting Street. It also features the group making decisions by playing the ladder game.

Season 2 premiered on January 21 and new episodes are being released every day. The show is available via oksusu and TrueID.