Despite EXO Baekhyun’s decision to celebrate his special day with Korean EXO-Ls, fans were unimpressed when an accusation arose.
What took place?
Complaints From EXO-Ls During Baekhyun Birthday Event
On May 6, fans of EXO, known as EXO-Ls, celebrated Baekhyun’s 32nd birthday worldwide. In order to create special memories with his fans, the idol arranged a birthday café event in different places, including Mapo, Seoul.
Cafe events, which have become a tradition among fans, are typically organized by fans and may occasionally include a visit from the celebrant for the purpose of engaging with attendees.
In contrast to the norm, Baekhyun, who had left SM Entertainment, made the decision to organize his own birthday event through his own entertainment label, INB100.
On May 4, the event was made available to the general public and, as anticipated, a large number of fans immediately expressed their keen interest. Safety measures were put in place, including the distribution of numbered tickets on a first-come, first-served basis.
The entry into the event was limited to a sequential order. Each day, only a maximum of 1000 people were allowed to attend and receive a rare photocard.
Regrettably, tensions rose as the number of attendees exceeded expectations, resulting in unforeseen circumstances and difficulties.
According to fan reviews, many fans arrived early for the 10:30 a.m. open run. This was due to a rule that only allowed a maximum of 50 people per hour to participate for a duration of approximately 30 minutes.
Despite the fact that turnover became slower and the waiting period was prolonged, complaints were still made about the “poor”system and organization. The situation escalated to the point where the police had to be called in to manage the large crowd.
Misinformation was also spread causing confusion among fans when they were led to believe that they needed to fill out an online reservation instead of receiving a queuing number.
Allegations Against EXO Baekhyun for Overcharging Fans at His Café
In addition to this, there was a confusion surrounding Baekhyun’s birthday cafe event due to the beverages and food that were provided.
Out of all the topics discussed, the pricing of cafe drinks and set menu was the most popular. Fans argued that it was pricier compared to a typical café event.
A complaint from one EXO-L was noted:
“Isn’t it too business-like to set up your own café event and charge high prices for drinks and desserts?”
Despite the supposed non-profit nature of café events, some people noted that the prices of the menus being offered felt like the idol was taking advantage of their fans.
📢 2024 BAEKHYUN BIRTHDAY CAFE ‘STOCK: 0506’ on-site information ✅ Menu sold out on 5/5 (Sun) #Baekhyun #BAEKHYUN # STOCK0506 pic.twitter.com/HP3LzktOpV
— BAEKHYUN_official (@BAEKHYUN_INB100) May 5, 2024
One of the main grievances was the insufficient availability of drinks, desserts, and set products for those who attended the afternoon slot, resulting in many being unable to make purchases. This led to a sense of disappointment among the majority of attendees.
Despite everything, numerous Kerries showed understanding and posted words of comfort online, including:
- “Even though it’s expensive, it’s a birthday event prepared by Baekhyun himself, so of course I’m going.”
- “I’m so grateful that you prepared a birthday event for us even though you’re busy.”
HAPPY BAEKHYUN DAY🥳🎂 #Baekhyun #BAEKHYUN #HAPPYBAEKHYUNDAY #The reason May is happy is_Baekyunni #HappyKyunDay pic.twitter.com/Mzq17tUYji
— BAEKHYUN_official (@BAEKHYUN_INB100) May 5, 2024
Furthermore, the issue was also addressed by INB100 at a later time.
“Usually, birthday cafes sell drinks based on the prices of drinks at the cafe they are renting, but currently, birthday cafes are selling at a discount from the existing selling price, and above all, the profits are solely the cafe’s profits.
You may have felt some discomfort. We will prepare more thoroughly in the future.”
Leave a Reply