Controversy: Chen, Xiumin And Baekhyun Retained As EXO Members As LEGAL BATTLE Intensifies With SM Entertainment (View Tweet)

The EXO members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin (CBX) recently made headlines when they announced via their attorney that they would be suing their record company, SM Entertainment. Since then, the legal conflict between the label and the members has been very heated. The three EXO members have now responded forcefully to the label's accusation that "outside forces" are attempting to steal them in a fresh statement, “ SM’s claims that there was an outside force is the agency’s way of avoiding the issue, being the artists’ rights, and is nothing more than misinformation to confuse the public.”

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The artists are self-sufficient, autonomous individuals with their own thoughts, the legal representative said, “It is even more appalling when considering the fact that the statements reflect SM Entertainment’s true attitude toward its artists. Outside forces? Our clients are self-governing human beings fully capable of thinking, acting, and making decisions for themselves. The decision to request records of their earnings and balances was one reached after much private thought and deliberation, not one triggered by any outside force,” the statement read.

(Source Credit: Kyoongpride)

“SM Entertainment alleged the artists attempted to sign with a different label, but Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin have never signed or attempted to sign with a different label,” the representative clarified on behalf of the artists.

Following the expiration of their exclusive contracts, the legal representative spoke about their future in EXO. “We are looking for ways for the artists to remain in EXO despite terminating their contracts. Even before terminating their contract, during negotiations with SM, the idols had offered a partnership that would allow them to take part in EXO activities.”

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“In the future, no matter how the legal dispute is resolved, the artists will carry out EXO activities faithfully,” the statement assured fans.

This year, EXO will make a full-group return.