Fans Raise Concerns About SM Entertainment’s Treatment Of EXO’s Sehun After He Is Reportedly “Excluded” From Line-Up For SMTOWN LIVE

SM Entertainment will be holding their family concert series SMTOWN LIVE in August, and fans are raising some questions about the line-up, particularly regarding EXO‘s Sehun.

SMTOWN LIVE is coming after five years away. While fans got to see their favorite artists perform online, SMTOWN 2022 is being highly anticipated as the first chance to see SM Entertainment’s impressive line-up of artists in person once again.

SM Entertainment announced the full line-up on July 12. Fans are excited to see the members of Girls’ Generation performing together again, as well as EXO’s D.O., whose singing performances have been sorely missed by EXO-Ls.

NO MORE TEARS GUYS KYUNGSOO WILL PERFORM ON SMTOWN LIVE!!! AND SNSD AS A COMPLETE GROUP TOO!!!! IDK WHAT TO DO IM PANICKING TELL ME THIS IS NOT A DREAM 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

— cedrick. 🐧🌸 #GG4EVA (@prosecudoh) July 12, 2022

Yet, as happy as fans are to see D.O., Kai, Xiumin, Suho, and Chen perform as EXO, many were disappointed to find that Sehun’s name was not included in SM Entertainment’s line-up announcement.

ALSO THIS AUGUST FOR SMCU EXPRESS IN TOKYO KIM BROTHERS WILL BE TOGETHER Minseok, Junmyeon, Jongdae, and Jongin 🥺❤️

— ari 💌 (@oshcuddles) July 11, 2022

While SHINee‘s Onew was also not included, his omission had a clear reason, as he is currently carrying out solo activities in Japan.

In case maybe some people curious why #ONEW didn't include in SMTOWN concert in SUWON, it's because he stay in Japan now and he already has schedule for his solo concert tour in Japan so he prepares a lot for his concert
Our ONEW fightingggg!!!🥰💙💙 https://t.co/Jl7gIIQWAr

— Aʟʏᴀ🥭 SUJU 'Mango' on 7.12 (@chaalya217) July 12, 2022

Yet, EXO-Ls could not see a clear reason for Sehun’s exclusion, especially since he is reportedly currently not involved in any projects and, of course, has plenty of options in terms of stages.

there’s no reason for sehun to be excluded from the group activity his filming is over and he currently has no other projects

— 🕊 (@lilsehunnie) July 12, 2022

sehun’s upcoming drama has officially finished filming, he has solo songs and sub-unit songs that he can perform, and the concert is being held in korea as well… i just find it hard to understand why he’s left out for any activities from the company…

— 🌸 사랑둥이 귀염둥이 세훈이 🌸 (@milkteus) July 12, 2022

sehun being excluded from the group activity IN seoul, like this doesn’t require any schedule adjustment, they couldn’t give my man a seat in the car and 3min to perform on me lmfao anyone defending sm on this i have good news for you

— -🧡 (@smollosh) July 12, 2022

This has led to allegations of poor treatment of Sehun by SM Entertainment, though it’s not the first time. Fans have pointed out several instances in which Sehun was allegedly treated poorly by the company, including in his career as an actor and model.

sm can't let sehun attend dior show, can't give sehun solo album, can't promote sehun as idol and as actor, can't give sehun a chance to perform on stage. so what can sm do? MISTREAT SEHUN!

— Queentiany ^‿^ (@Queentiany) July 12, 2022

I want to remind you how companies don't promote Sehun well, whether it's as an actor, a model, or an idol.
And I don't know if SM will announce Sehun as a lineup or not. But despite all that, previously we knew how the company didn't treat Sehun well. pic.twitter.com/shd3ZnEkiZ

— vaa🐣 (@xunqisshn04) July 12, 2022

Following the line-up announcement for SMTOWN LIVE, Sehun trended on Twitter under different hashtags including #STOP NORMALIZING MISTREATMENT.

STOP NORMALIZING MISTREATMENT SEHUN DESERVES BETTER#SEHUN#SEHUN_DESERVES_BETTER#SM_TreatSehunBetter

— 꿈세훈☁️ (@reveusehun) July 12, 2022

Fans have enjoyed Sehun’s modeling and acting projects so far, but they are also really looking forward to seeing him perform as an idol again, which is why his unexplained exclusion feels unfair.

ⓘ This user is missing idol Sehun and wishes to see him performing on stage again. 😢

— 쉰花 ❄️ (@xunhuas) July 12, 2022

WE NEED PERFORMER SEHUN BACK pic.twitter.com/AUjdQ3KHsn

— maria ʚɞ (@ohsenh) July 12, 2022

Put this man back to stage plss .. we need to see him performing again !! #SEHUN pic.twitter.com/Dl8DJ16MvP

— Jackie | 1ΞX0 | All That We’ve Ever Loved | 🧡🍒 (@JackieExoSCBC) July 12, 2022

bitches dont want boyfriends, they want idol sehun back. its me i am bitches. pic.twitter.com/JrwCoCWPXx

— ً (@exosupremacy__) July 12, 2022

Yet, as much as EXO-Ls want to see idol Sehun perform again, the main thing they are asking of SM Entertainment is simply an explanation.

Would @SMTOWNGLOBAL or @weareoneEXO kindly clarify the reason preventing Sehun from performing his solo, alongside all other active members, in the SMTOWN concert happening in Suwon (on 20th August) so that fans will not have to speculate the reason of his absence?

— Sehun Global Union (@OhSehunGlobal) July 12, 2022

There are reports that Sehun’s absence from SMTOWN LIVE is due to conflicting schedules…

071222 According to Kmedia, Sehun will not be participating in SMTown Concert Live in Suwon due to conflicting schedules with filming in the set of Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" pic.twitter.com/pYpaXOhbJ6

— Arki 🍳 (@sehunsilog) July 12, 2022

…though it has yet to be confirmed as of this writing. Hopefully, Sehun will get the chance to perform with his members soon!