EXO’s Chen Spotted Out With Wife and Daughter Years After Marriage Backlash
EXO’s Chen was spotted enjoying an outing with his wife and daughter, years after his marriage and family life sparked intense backlash among some fans.
EXO’s Chen was once at the center of intense backlash in South Korea after unexpectedly announcing both his marriage and impending fatherhood six years ago. On the morning of September 20, Chinese media reported that Chen had recently been spotted by a passerby while out with his wife and daughter. The singer and his wife were dressed casually, with Chen wearing a light beige linen shirt paired with cargo pants for a relaxed look. His wife walked beside him in a simple black T-shirt and wide-leg jeans.
Much of the attention, however, was directed toward Chen’s daughter, Ahrin, who is now seven years old. Compared with earlier photos, she appeared noticeably taller. In the images, the young girl could be seen holding tightly onto her father’s hand as she happily ran around in a bright flared dress, displaying a lively and cheerful personality.
Late last year, Chen’s wife also drew attention after unexpectedly changing her private social media account to public. Through the account, she shared photos of their daughter from when she was younger, as well as an image taken during her pregnancy.
Some netizens interpreted the decision as an attempt to provoke or tease the singer’s fans, particularly given the strong opposition the couple had previously faced. However, this interpretation was based on online speculation rather than any stated intention from Chen’s wife.
Chen’s public image in South Korea was significantly affected after the EXO member suddenly announced his marriage and his fiancée’s pregnancy in early 2020. The news that a member of one of the leading third-generation K-pop groups was about to become a father came as a major shock to some fans. A portion of the fandom turned against Chen, accusing him of being irresponsible toward EXO, while some even staged protests demanding that he leave the group.
Although Chen and his wife had already been together for years, they did not hold their formal wedding ceremony until 2023. Shortly after the wedding, the singer once again faced criticism from some fans, who interpreted one particular choice during the ceremony as a deliberate message aimed at them.
During the wedding, musicians reportedly performed EXO’s “Don’t Go,” a song that has long carried special meaning for the group and its fans, in front of Chen, his bride, and their guests. The decision sparked heated debate across Korean online communities. Some fans who had opposed Chen’s marriage questioned why he chose a song closely associated with EXO and its fandom for his wedding and accused him of being insensitive or even deliberately provoking them. Others defended the singer, arguing that Chen had every right to choose whichever song he wanted for one of the most important days of his life.
Chen continues to face criticism from a segment of the Korean fandom, while his recent solo sales have also attracted attention. Late last year, he returned with new music, but first-week sales for his album Arcadia were reported at 13,576 copies. The figure represented a significant decline compared with his previous album, which had reportedly sold more than 79,000 copies during its first week.
Sources: k14