EXO’s Chanyeol / Xportsnews
K-pop star Chanyeol is revisiting one of his most talked-about “black history” moments — and this time, he’s addressing it head-on.
In a recent YouTube video uploaded on April 9 to EXO’s official channel, Chanyeol opened up about the long-running “hand-sync” controversy that once sparked widespread mockery online, turning an awkward onstage moment into a viral talking point among fans.
The video, titled “We Are One, let’s EXO,” featured members of EXO — Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai and Sehun — gathering to celebrate their 14th anniversaryof its debut.
During the conversation, Chanyeol brought up the incident that continues to circulate on social media years later. “I dropped the drumstick while doing a hand-sync performance. I was really flustered. In that short moment, I broke into a cold sweat,” he said, before asking if he could finally clarify what happened.
The controversy dates back to a concert performance where Chanyeol appeared to be playing drums. When he accidentally dropped a drumstick, the sound continued — revealing that the performance was pre-recorded. The clip quickly spread online, becoming a source of ridicule and memes.
“I could actually play that song,” he said. “But for a one-minute-and-30-second segment at an overseas concert, it didn’t make sense to mic everything live. So I did hand-sync. But when I dropped the stick, I was mocked endlessly.”
Chanyeol also addressed another widely shared moment involving a piano performance. While singing and playing simultaneously, his microphone stand reportedly loosened, forcing him to improvise.
“The mic kept moving away while I was playing the piano. I had to decide in that instant — should I give up the singing or the piano?” he said.
His bandmate D.O. jokingly asked if both had been lip-synced, drawing laughter from the group. Chanyeol clarified, “The singing was live.”
He explained that the piano part had been pre-recorded, which allowed him to continue playing with one hand while holding the microphone with the other. “The director even came from behind and held the mic for me. We basically performed together,” he added, recalling the moment with humor.
The candid explanation has sparked renewed buzz online, with fans reacting to his honesty. Comments such as “I can’t believe he’s talking about this,” and “He’s finally confronting his legendary black history” have been widely shared, showing how the incident remains a memorable moment in K-pop fandom culture.
By openly addressing the controversy, Chanyeol appears to be reclaiming the narrative around a once-embarrassing episode — turning a viral mishap into a moment of self-awareness and humor.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.