The announcement of the marriage of group EXO member Chen (28, Kim Jong Dae) has castrated the wave in the fandom. The official paid fan club 'EXO-L ACE Alliance' issued a statement saying that if Chen is not Exited, it will protest.
"The EXO-L ACE Alliance, a paid fan club on the 16th, issued an official statement saying," We declare support for Chen's acting as an EXO member and demand SM Entertainment to Exit Chen's team. "
Fans cited the reasons for the withdrawal, such as the fact that the image of the group itself, EXO, is seriously damaged due to Chen's arbitrary actions, the division and breakdown of EXO fandom are serious, and the unstable group schedule is damaging to both fandom and artists.
In particular, they emphasized that "many paid members with substantial purchasing power in EXO fandom desperately want Chen to leave," and warned, "If we do not have an answer to the requirements by 18th, we will carry out any direct and indirect demonstrations."
Chen announced on the 13th that he had a girlfriend who wanted to spend his life together and "blessing came" at the same time with marriage and the second year old news. Some fans have congratulated and cheered, but criticism is dominant, mainly in paid fan clubs with high purchasing power.
Idol fandom is different from the first and second generation idol fandom. It is evolving into fan-shumer (a combination of fans and consumers). The feelings when they like idols are not simple enough to be summarized in one word like 'similar love'. Nowadays, the active consumption and support of fandom is accompanied by the mind that 'I raise'. Here is the fellow consciousness that 'my idol should be more successful'.
Fans feel betrayed that Chen has lost his sense of fellowship with shock about the fact that he omitted official love, marriage announcement and informed the news of the second year at once. At the same time, Chen's marriage is not welcoming his group activities because it can be a factor that prevents the success of my favorite idol group.
On various online communities and SNS, there are a line of articles that express betrayal toward Chen, such as "There is a sense of responsibility for the person you love, and there is no sense of responsibility for the person who loves you."
"I would have liked to have at least a word of sorry to the fans in the letter, but Chen does not understand the hearts of the fans at all," said A, a 30-year-old worker who said he was a fan of EXO for 7 years.
An official of one song said, "It seems that the fans react so strongly because they felt more betrayal in the announcement process rather than the fact that Chen is marriage." "The fact that the members of the paid fan club who are actively consuming have turned their backs is a situation that can be hit by the group."