EXO Chanyeol Thanks SM CEO Amid CBX Lawsuit Drama, Fans Think It’s A Shade!

Many fans found EXO Chanyeol's thank you message strange.

Popular K-pop group EXO returned with a new album after a long time. Their eighth album, REVERXE, and the ‘Crown’ music video came out on January 19, 2026. Fans had mixed feelings about it. Many did not like the video’s look or the fact that CBX, Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, were not part of the comeback. Now, member Chanyeol’s thank-you note has ignited heated debate online, as some fans believe he was indirectly criticising CBX. Read on to know all about it.

In the album’s “Thanks To” page, Chanyeol wrote a short message. He thanked SM Entertainment CEO Tak Young Joon and the whole SM team with all his heart. He said many people helped make REVERXE possible from the first half of 2025. Some fans found this strange.

thanking the devil himself lmao im not surprised knowing they helped him clean up his cheating scandal. he’ll be forever in the shackles of that company until he retires https://t.co/SSDqCI959N

— bel 💟 (@1topbbh) January 20, 2026

They pointed out that the CEO is tied to the CBX legal case and called it a low move to thank the person involved in hurting his long-time friends. Others said Chanyeol was just being polite and thanking those who worked on the album.

The album release made EXO-Ls very happy and why not? It was the first full album in years with the six active members. However, CBX could not join because of their ongoing legal fight with SM Entertainment. The dispute started in 2023 over contracts and money. Courts mostly sided with SM by the end of 2025. This kept the three members away from group work, which made some fans sad and angry.

Also Read: One Hundred Rejects Claims Of Unpaid Settlements To EXO-CBX, Taemin, And More!

On the other hand, many didn’t like the music video for Crown. They said the song’s style felt too much like NCT’s music, with strong beats and electronic sounds. Others thought it used too much AI for the visuals, making it feel fake or lazy. Fans who enjoy real human effort felt disappointed.

What do you think?

Also Read: EXO’s December Fan Event Sells Out Instantly, But Fans Question CBX’s Absence

First Published: January 22, 2026 3:23 PM