CHINA TOPIX

03/29/2024 06:33:52 am

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EXO’s Bodyguard Arrested at Nanjing Airport

Last August 16, South Korean-Chinese boy band EXO set out for Nanjing, China, and reports surfaced that one of their bodyguards has been arrested by authorities at Nanjing Airport after being involved in an altercation with fans.

EXO has been scheduled to perform in Nanjing for the Samsung Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games opening event last August 17. Upon the 11-member boy band's arrival to the airport, they were met with a mob of fans in overwhelming numbers which proved to be too much for the limited security at that time.

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Other than the incident with the fans, the group and their staff were said to have been stopped by customs officers due to issues regarding the contents of their luggage.

According to reports, EXO's managers refused when the airport staff requested for the members to open their luggage in order to be checked. The managers allegedly showed open displeasure and scolded the guards at the airport. Additionally, said manager kicked a table which hit fans who were standing nearby.

Out of rage, the manager purportedly shone bright light on the fans' eyes to prevent them from taking photos of the EXO members. One fan's camera was said to have been knocked down to the ground, aggravating the already chaotic situation.

The manager was then subdued by airport authorities and was pulled out of the scene.

Despite not being involved in the altercation, some of the members were said to have been upset over the whole thing. Chinese members Tao and Lay were seen in some fan videos looking worriedly at the direction of the fans and their other members.

Lay, who is known for his affection towards their fans, allegedly shouted at the guards to stop being too harsh on the fans who were getting pushed and hit as the boys were being escorted out of the airport.

Some witnesses have reported that the dispute was caused by an airport staff who had a bad attitude. Members Tao and Lu Han tried to mediate between the two sides, but it was useless.

On the other hand, SM Entertainment, the talent outfit that manages EXO, has denied that EXO's manager was involved in the conflict. They've made it clear that it was one of the bodyguards. The company also denied any involvement of the police and that the problem was resolved in the airport without problems.

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