Latest news with #EXO
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Why is she smiling?' Former EXO idol Kris Wu's accuser Du Meizhu draws backlash for 'gleeful' tone while recalling sexual assault
Content warning: This article contains discussions of sexual assault that may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised. The name Kris Wu once echoed through stadiums and fan hearts, however, now, when one talks about the former EXO idol, it leaves a bad taste to the mouth. The singer is currently sitting behind bars, serving a 13-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2022 for multiple sexual offenses, including rape. His downfall began in 2021 when Chinese influencer Du Meizhu, then just 17, publicly accused the Chinese-Canadian singer of date-raping her. Her brave revelation sent shockwaves through the C-pop and K-pop communities - and sparked a flood of similar allegations from more than 20 other women, eventually leading to Wu's arrest and conviction. Du Meizhu recalls the incident with Kris Wu Now, years later, Du Meizhu has returned to the public eye, and her latest appearance has ignited a new wave of controversy. In an interview on an online talk show, the now 23-year-old influencer gave a chilling, detailed account of the night she claims changed her life forever. She recounted playing cards with Kris Wu and a group of acquaintances, where alcohol flowed freely. "Kris was very nice about it and even offered to help me drink," she recalled. "He came across as a kind, older guy - very gentlemanly." But as she became more intoxicated, things took a dark turn. Meizhu said Kris' female manager led her to a room to rest. She remembered a man lying beside her, whispering, "Baby, I really like you," before kissing her and walking away. She believes she was later taken to another location - where the alleged assault took place. "When I woke up, we were in bed together. I was dizzy, confused. It had never happened to me before. I wanted to leave, but he held me back," she said Kris tried to calm her down and proposed they become a couple, promising to take responsibility. "I felt like I could only pick the second option," she said, referring to accepting the relationship rather than confronting the trauma. Netizens unhappy with Du Meizhu's confession about Kris Wu However, what was meant to be a vulnerable confession has sparked fierce debate - not over the sexual assault, but her demeanour. Many viewers were taken aback by her tone, calling out her "smiling" and "gleeful" expressions during the segment. "Why is she smiling?" one Weibo user asked bluntly. Another added, "She doesn't come off like the victim. She sounds almost excited." Some even questioned her motives and timing: "Why bring this up again four years later?" It's not the first time Meizhu's credibility has come under fire. Her former boss once accused her of exploiting a male model, calling her "not a good person." Even her former best friend sided with Kris Wu, alleging that Meizhu had once bragged about dating the idol and planned to use the scandal for financial gain. However, there were also many who rallied behind her, slamming the backlash as classic victim-shaming. "So now victims aren't allowed to smile? Do we want them to cry on cue?" one user wrote. Another said, "This reaction just proves how little society understands trauma." As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the Kris Wu saga continues to haunt the entertainment world - not just for what happened, but for how the world chooses to respond. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
KOSTCON 2025: South Korean stars EXO's Chen, Lyn, and more head to Manila for Korean OST concert
Get ready, K-drama fans - the emotional soundtracks that defined your favorite series are coming to life. KOSTCON: Korean OST Concert 2025 is set to take place on August 6, 2025, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, bringing together some of South Korea's most iconic OST performers. This landmark event marks one of the world's first concerts dedicated entirely to Korean OSTs, and the Philippines has the distinct honour of being part of its historic debut. For Filipino fans, it's a rare chance to witness the voices behind the most unforgettable drama moments - live and in person. What to expect at KOSTCON 2025 More than just a concert, KOSTCON is designed as an immersive celebration of K-drama music, featuring: Exclusive merchandise; Exciting fan benefits and Special surprises throughout the night The star-studded lineup: Original voices of your favorite K-dramas Lyn South Korean singer Lyn is renowned for her soulful ballads that often accompany K-drama tearjerkers. Notable OSTs: My Destiny - My Love From the Star (2013); With You - Descendants of the Sun (2016); LOVE - Are You Human? (2018) CHEN (EXO) A fan-favorite surprise, CHEN of EXO joins the KOSTCON 2025 lineup. Not just an idol, he's a respected OST vocalist. Notable OSTs: Everytime (with Punch) - Descendants of the Sun (2016); For You (with Baekhyun & Xiumin) - Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016); Best Luck - It's Okay, That's Love (2014) Kim Bum-soo A powerhouse of R&B and soul, Kim Bum-soo is beloved for his emotionally rich performances. Notable OSTs: I Miss You - Stairway to Heaven (2003); Appear - Secret Garden (2010); I Love You - Uncontrollably Fond (2016) Known for his vocal versatility, effortlessly shifts between energetic tracks and heartfelt ballads. Notable OSTs: Only You - Pinocchio (2014); Talk Love - Descendants of the Sun (2016); Beautiful Moment - The Beauty Inside (2018) Soyou Former SISTAR member Soyou brings a husky, emotional tone that leaves a lasting impact. Notable OSTs: You Don't Know Me (with Brother Su) - She Was Pretty (2015); I Miss You - Goblin (2016); The Only Me - 18 Again (2020) Heize An OST icon, Heize is known for infusing K-dramas with her emotional, melodic sound. Notable OSTs: Round and Round (with Han Suji) - Goblin (2016); Can You See My Heart - Hotel Del Luna (2019); Hold Me Back - Queen of Tears (2024) Lee Mu-jin A rising star with a distinct voice, Lee Mu-jin has quickly become a go-to name in recent OSTs. Notable OSTs: Rain and You - Hospital Playlist Season 2 (2021); Sweet - A Business Proposal (2022); Meant to Be - Heavenly Ever After (2025) Ticket details Do not miss KOSTCON: Korean OST Concert 2025, a one-of-a-kind celebration of K-drama music and emotion, happening August 6 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Tickets are available now via SM Tickets outlets nationwide and through their official website. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Baekhyun Reminisces On Fan Moments From U.S. Leg Of Reverie World Tour
BAEKHYUN at his Los Angeles concert for "Reverie" World Tour It has been five years since Baekhyun graced the stage in Los Angeles for his first solo World Tour. Los Angeles was his final stop for the North American leg of his 'Reverie' Tour, named after his latest album, Essence of Reverie. Throughout the high-impact concert, the K-pop artist was greeted with sounds of barking from the audience. He's heard these types of cheers from his American fans throughout the tour. He smiles, asking the LA crowd, 'Do you guys do this at other people's concerts too?' As fans began to bark more, he asked them, 'Can you tell me what it means?' He raised his thumbs up and then formed a heart gesture, 'Oh, love? Good?' He begins to bark with the group, and then shrugs with a smile. 'I thought the [barking] was a different form of applause – a sort of thumbs up approval of satisfaction,' Baekhyun says through an interpreter over Zoom from his Los Angeles hotel. 'Each country has a different way of showing appreciation and reacting to performances. It's definitely something that I'll remember at the start of this world tour.' The 33-year-old EXO member is all smiles after his LA show two days ago, now relaxing a bit before heading for the European leg of the tour. He says he gets energy from his shows and the excitement he feels seeing his American eris– the name for his fans – dancing along to his music. He enjoyed the vibes that the fans gave back to him. 'First and foremost, I feel like I made them wait too long,' he says. 'Seeing all the fans [making] the best of our time together was so beautiful. This was a very meaningful time [for me] being able to greet everyone, and make fun and happy memories together.' BAEKHYUN at his Los Angeles concert for "Reverie" World Tour Baekhyun initially wanted his Asia 'Lonsdaleite' Tour to be a World Tour, but realized there was not enough time to thoroughly flesh out the details internationally. He wanted to be fully ready to meet his fans globally. He knows those in North America, Latin America, Oceania, and Europe have been patiently waiting for him. He felt that love from them during their sweet messages at the end of his final show. 'I am so grateful that my fans have waited for five years and, yet, they still show me so much love, and watch my performances with eyes full of love and sincerity,' Baekhyun says with emotion. 'There was a time on stage [when] I said, 'What did I do in my past life to receive this much love?' I really mean that. I am eternally grateful. I will try my best to give back all the love I've received on this tour.' It's another reason why he felt the 'Reverie' tour, which promoted Essence of Reverie, was the perfect time to see his international fans. The album was all about his fans because he created music and songs that he knew they would want from him. It was made with eris in mind. He wore different, fun accessories during his concert encore to showcase the cute and cool sides of himself, as well as his vocal range. He wanted the concert to feel like an amusement park – a place full of nostalgia and magic, so that they could add this moment to their happy memories. 'Reverie, to me, is to protect the version of myself that my fans treasure in their memories,' he describes. 'There may be other directions I may want to go for the album, but as my [fans who I consider] partners, I wanted to focus on what the fans want.' BAEKHYUN at his Los Angeles concert for "Reverie" World Tour During the encore performance, Baekhyun surprised his fans with 'Paranoia,' his League of Legends song with the virtual group Heartsteel, in which he provides the voice for the character of Ezrael. He noted that there were a few people from Riot Games, and he wanted to do more with the character. 'I want to do something with Ezrael,' he admits. 'Inside the game, Ezrael uses light as a weapon. My 'superpower' in EXO is also light. In that sense, we are [very] similar. I'm hoping that there will be more opportunities to work together – maybe an Ezrael solo album – and collaborate on more projects.' He also mentioned the popular Netflix animated movie, KPop Demon Hunters during the encore, which was met with cheers. One of the film's songwriters revealed that the fictional K-pop boy group Saja Boy's song 'Your Idol' was inspired by EXO songs, 'Obsession' and 'MAMA.' 'It always makes me feel good to hear that our music has inspired others,' says Baekhyun. 'Knowing that EXO's music and history influenced other artists is amazing. Saja Boys are so popular nowadays, and I hope that we as artists can continue to inspire and positively influence each other.' BAEKHYUN at his Los Angeles concert for "Reverie" World Tour When asked if he would love to try a different genre of music for his next album, he says there are so many he wants to try, but doesn't want to lose his identity and color. He may explore these challenges through other opportunities, such as digital singles, but he wants to add more depth to his current R&B and pop style. He does want to try new songs in different languages. He already has a few English tracks. 'I want to try Spanish too,' he reveals. 'Being on tour made me think that I want to sing in various languages with the [hopes] that fans can enjoy my music even more. English is a very global language, but it would be nice to possibly record in different languages to be able to flow freely between the different versions at future concerts. I want to challenge myself in this way.' Until then, Baekhyun is focused on the rest of his World Tour, which ends in Asia at the beginning of November. He wouldn't mind participating in an international festival one day, like Coachella or Lollapalooza, as it would allow him to showcase a different side of himself. He says, 'Each festival has its own unique vibes. It would be great to combine the unique festival vibes with my own. I hope to participate in one someday.' As long as the fans are there, Baekhyun will be happy.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Xinyu's Political Stance Sparks Controversy in K-Pop: The One China Principle Explained
Chinese member Xinyu of the multinational girl group tripleS When Korean Wave Meets Politics - The Xinyu Controversy Storm Imagine casually scrolling through your favorite K-pop idol's messages and suddenly getting hit with a political bombshell that could end careers. That's exactly what happened when Xinyu, the Chinese member of the 24-member girl group tripleS, went full political mode on the fan communication platform fromm. The Beijing-born idol didn't just dip her toes into controversial waters - she straight-up dove in. In messages written in Chinese and auto-translated to Korean, Xinyu boldly declared, "Macau has been Chinese from the beginning. Hong Kong and Taiwan are the same." But the real shocker was her reaction when fans warned her about potential backlash. "People who don't agree with me shouldn't follow me on fromm. Why should I be scared of being scolded? Did I say something wrong?" she wrote with the kind of confidence that would make even the most seasoned politicians nervous. This level of boldness is like someone in our country making extremely sensitive statements about Kashmir and asking "What's the problem?" - that's how daring this was. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em São Gonçalo (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo The "One China" Principle - A Political Minefield in K-Pop For those wondering what all the fuss is about, Xinyu's statements align perfectly with China's "One China" policy. This principle essentially claims that mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau are all one unified country under Chinese government rule. For us as young people, this might feel a bit complex. It's similar to saying all states in our country form one federal nation, but the situation is much more sensitive. Taiwan has a virtually independent government and economic system, while Hong Kong claims autonomy even under "One Country, Two Systems." It's like the complexity of Puducherry or Delhi having completely different political systems while still being part of our nation. This policy became a massive source of tension, especially after the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests when people literally took to the streets opposing Beijing's growing influence. Most celebrities would avoid this kind of political hot potato, but Xinyu grabbed it with both hands. This isn't the first time Chinese K-pop idols have found themselves in this predicament. In 2019, several Chinese stars including Jackson Wang from GOT7 and Lay Zhang from EXO publicly supported the "One China" policy during the Hong Kong protests. It's almost like a rite of passage for Chinese idols - support the policy or face consequences back home. Lay Zhang from EXO The Bigger Picture - When Entertainment Meets Politics This incident reflects the broader challenges facing the K-pop industry's relationship with China. Since 2016, China has maintained unofficial sanctions on Korean cultural content following South Korea's deployment of the THAAD missile defense system. It's been a rollercoaster relationship with occasional thaws followed by sudden freezes. The situation is particularly complex for groups like tripleS, which includes members from various countries, including Nien, who has dual Taiwanese/Vietnamese citizenship. Imagine how awkward group meetings must be when one member is essentially claiming another member's homeland as part of her own country.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
BLACKPINK's Lisa goes viral after sharing photos with EXO star Suho at DEADLINE concert
BLACKPINK's made waves online after she was spotted alongside EXO member . The idol was celebrating with her band members after their show for their ongoing world tour 'DEADLINE' when she was spotted alongside the 3rd-gen idol. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now BLACKPINK Lisa and EXO Suho BLACKPINK recently began their world tour by opening shows in the Goyang International Stadium. The concerts were attended by fans as well as friends and family members of the group, along with various A-list celebrities. During a mini celebration, Lisa was spotted alongside EXO member Suho. As soon as the photos of the duo were shared online, they ended up going viral, with K-netizens and fans of the idol going into a frenzy over seeing the EXO member along with the girl group. Many expressed their surprise over the friendship, and even called Suho sweet for showing up to support the group. One fan commented, 'It's so fascinating to come across unexpected friendships like this sometimes', while another shared that, 'You're right. People saw him at the BLACKPINK concert, so I got curious. Turns out, Lisa was the one who invited him'. BLACKPINK is currently promoting their world tour 'DEADLINE'. They also recently made a comeback with the song 'JUMP' as well. The song was first launched unofficially when they performed it on July 5 and 6 during their concerts in Seoul.
