Third gen holds a very special place in the hearts of K-pop fans. Right now, many groups from that era are returning with new music. The latest to make a comeback is SM Entertainment’s EXO. They just dropped their new album along with the lead single ‘Crown’. However, the reactions are mixed. Read on to know why.
EXO dropped their eighth full album, called REVERXE and the title track’s music video on January 19, 2026. Before the release, the teaser for ‘Crown’ faced a lot of negative comments. Many people disliked the song’s style and thought it sounded like something another group, like NCT, would do.
Others pointed out heavy use of AI in the music video visuals and called it lazy or not real enough for fans who love human creativity.
Another issue was the absence of Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, also known as CBX. Fans felt the group looked incomplete without them. However, others loved the song. They praised the powerful return and enjoyed the new style after a long wait since their last full group album.
For the unversed, it all began in June 2023 when the three members wanted to end their long contracts with SM Entertainment because they felt things were unfair. Later, both sides reached an agreement. CBX would stay with SM for EXO group work but handle their solo activities through their own company, INB100. As part of the deal, they needed to give SM a 10 percent share of their earnings.
Trouble grew when the three did not pay that share on time. This led to more court cases and even police reports from both sides. Later, legal checks, including from police, courts, the Culture Ministry, and Fair Trade officials, found no proof that SM broke rules or tricked anyone.
Higher courts also supported SM’s side and therefore the claims against the company were dismissed. This has left many fans sad and divided.
What do you think?
Also Read: Here’s Why EXO’s Lay Suddenly Flew Back To China And Missed Group’s Fan Meeting!