NCT DREAM’s Chenle Personally Addresses Suspicion That SM Entertainment “Sabotaging” Him

The suspicion led to protest trucks being sent to SM Entertainment.
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Jenny Kang
Jenny Kang

Following NCT DREAM‘s latest performances at the 2024 World Tour “THE DREAM SHOW 3: DREAM( )SCAPE” in Hong Kong, member Chenle‘s fans have raised concern over the frequent—and suspicious—issue with the idol’s microphone volume.

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NCT DREAM in Hong Kong | @NCTsmtown_DREAM/X

A clip shared by X (former Twitter) user @Treat_Cl_fairly captured Chenle struggling on stage because “the microphone’s volume fluctuated.”

Blaming SM Entertainment for the inexplicable microphone issue and accusing the management of an intentional “sabotage” of Chenle’s career, fans also sent trucks in protest—asking for “fair and adequate support” for the idol.

Soon, the idol himself took to Weverse and addressed the suspicion with a live broadcast, translated by another X user @squishyychenle.

Claiming he is “not explaining on behalf of the company,” Chenle shot down the idea that SM Entertainment manipulated his microphone volume in an attempt to discriminate against him.

There’s no way! You all are more objective and there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m only able to hear myself in my in-ears, so I’m unaware of how it sounds in the venue. A lot of people have raised concern regarding this problem, so I want to find a solution and I want to share my thoughts and standpoint. I feel that the company has no need to sabotage me. What’s there to sabotage?

— Chenle

Chenle added on the technical aspect of why the microphone volume would be changed at all, and asked his fans to point out the specific songs that were affected the most—so that he could talk to his management about it.

Viewing this from a more professional viewpoint, adjusting of microphone volume… I’m very grateful that everyone’s concerned for me. But I don’t want you to misunderstand, so I’d like to explain. I’d like to firstly explain that my voice is originally a bit louder than the other members’. The volume of microphones cannot be the same. That’s one point. Another point is, let’s say I sing a high note for a part, singing at a super loud volume. The balance would be off there, and the sound released to the venue would be off-balance.

That’s when they’ll be like ‘His volume is too high’ and lower the volume. At the next part, if I sing more softly, for a part that’s not as strong? These things are done by people, not machines. So they can’t be 100% accurate. If the volume change really is like what everyone says, I’ll definitely go ask about it. I asked about it earlier, too. I want to ask everyone what songs were affected by this situation. There’s no way that the whole show, from start to finish, was like this. So, please tell me what songs.

This way it’ll be easier to adjust and easier to explain how to go about it. So tell me what songs were like that. Then, I can tell them ‘can you do this or do that’ for those songs. It’ll be easier that way. I’m not explaining on behalf of the company. They’re not asking me to explain for them either. Who am I to anyway? I’m just telling everyone as I don’t want everyone to misunderstand, you know?

— Chenle

All the while appreciating Chenle’s live broadcast, fans continue to demand better from SM Entertainment—pointing out that the this is not the first time Chenle’s microphone volume had been turned down and he had to talk about it.

SM Entertainment has not responded to the online speculation, the trucks, or Chenle’s live broadcast.

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