EXO Lay is officially no longer part of SM Entertainment.
From being a 12-piece group, EXO continuously lost its Chinese members over the past years, with fans witnessing the exits of Kris Wu, Luhan, and Huang Zi Tao. Although they needed to continue as a nine-piece group, the SM Entertainment boy group still managed to top the charts and pushed through with their legacy and vision for the group.
While they will still promote the remaining nine members, Lay left the agency recently but pledged to continue working with the boy group.
On his Instagram page, the what U need? hitmaker marked the boy group’s 10th anniversary with a departure letter. The K-pop idol penned the handwritten letter in English and Korean, revealing his exit from SM Entertainment.
Lay’s full statement reads:
“Ten years of growth, thank you all. Thank you to my EXO brothers for your company and encouragement. Thanks to my colleagues at SM for witnessing every step of my growth and achievement. Thank you to all of my fans for your unconditional love and support.
It’s time to say goodbye as an employee of SM. It’s also my new beginning as a 30-year-old. But I will always be the Lay when my members need me.
I’m your family member in China, Zhang Yi Xing.
Love you forever.
EXO.
Saranghae. [I love you].”
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Yixing Remains a Member of EXO
Although he is no longer an artist under SM Entertainment, Lay remains a permanent member of EXO. In fact, he currently stays with five other active members – Xiumin, Suho, D.O., Kai, and Sehun – while Baekhyun, Chen, and Chanyeol serve their time in the military.
Lay has proven his power already, as he dominated social media platforms when he came back during EXO’s Don’t Fight the Feeling promotions.
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He has been on a hiatus from most of the group’s activities since 2016. During those years, he expanded his career in China. Aside from making solo music and taking on roles in the acting industry, he also became a captain on the Chinese show, Youku: Street Dance of China 3.
Lay also made a cameo in EXO’s Korean music video for Tempo and the Chinese version of the song.
Will Lay Leave EXO?
Since he started his hiatus, he has been bombarded with questions about whether or not he would leave the group. It is worth noting that he is now the only member from China that remains part of EXO.
Although he departed from SM Entertainment, it does not mean he would no longer participate in EXO’s promotions. In addition, he has been sparking exit buzzes but always came back to prove his love to his co-members.
As of press time, fans have been showering him with well-wishes as he embarks on his journey where he could get the love and attention SM Entertainment failed to provide.
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