EXO's Tao sparks controversy over video allegedly slapping wife

Controversy has erupted online after a video surfaced appearing to show Chinese singer Huang Zitao (Tao), a former member of the group EXO, slapping his wife, Xu Yiyang. However, it has been confirmed that the video in question is an edited version; in the original footage, the two were reportedly engaging in playful banter while playing a game.

On the 11th, edited clips of Tao and Xu Yiyang from a past live broadcast spread rapidly across YouTube and various social media platforms. Some clips captured a scene where Tao reached toward Xu Yiyang's face, followed by a moment that appeared to show Xu Yiyang slapping Tao's cheek.

Netizens who only saw the short, edited clips interpreted the situation as Tao slapping his wife first, prompting Xu Yiyang to react. Criticism followed, with some arguing that even if it was a joke between a married couple, the level of physical contact was excessive.

The controversy spread due to the way the video was edited. Some posts placed the moment where Tao appeared to strike Xu Yiyang's face at the very beginning, constructing a context that suggested a one-sided physical confrontation between the two.

However, the full flow of the original video was different.

According to comparative videos circulating online, the two were playing a game and joking with each other at the time. During this process, Xu Yiyang slapped Tao's cheek, and rather than taking it seriously, Tao laughed it off. The couple continued their conversation, maintaining a playful atmosphere.

In short, as the preceding and following context—which was difficult to verify through the viral clips alone—was revealed in the original video, a significant discrepancy emerged regarding the initial interpretation of "Tao assaulting his wife."

This case once again demonstrates the characteristics of social media video consumption, where arbitrarily cutting parts of a video or changing the order of scenes can lead the same footage to be perceived with an entirely different meaning. While short video clips possess rapid virality, there is a possibility that they may create meanings different from the actual context if the situation at the time of filming and the relationship between speech and action are removed.

Even after the controversy subsided, reactions to the behavior of Tao and Xu Yiyang remained divided.

Some fans pointed out the physical playfulness itself, saying, "Even if it's a joke, it went too far" or "I hope they don't do that again." On the other hand, some opinions suggested that criticizing Tao based solely on the short, edited video was inappropriate, stating, "The two were in a situation where they were joking with each other" and "If you watch the original, the atmosphere is not serious."

The crucial point in this controversy lies not in concluding whether an assault occurred, but in how faithfully the initially spread video conveyed the context of the original. Especially with sensitive subjects like the private lives of celebrities or marital relationships, the possibility of distorting facts increases when judging an entire situation based on a few seconds of edited video.

Tao and Xu Yiyang are a celebrity couple who have shown their relationship publicly for some time.

Tao debuted as a member of EXO in 2012, and after leaving the team in 2015, he expanded his career in China as a singer, actor, and entrepreneur. In China, he has built an independent career by participating in various businesses as well as musical activities.

Xu Yiyang also has ties to the Korean entertainment industry. She joined SM Entertainment as a trainee in 2014 and was introduced as a member of SM Rookies before returning to China to work as a singer and broadcaster.

After being swept into dating rumors several times, the two legally became a married couple by registering their marriage in 2024 and subsequently held a wedding ceremony.

Tao is currently continuing his activities not only in music and acting but also in the business sector. Recently, he has been diversifying his fields of activity, including participating in a sanitary pad brand business.

Ultimately, this video controversy serves as a case that shows how quickly "provocative scenes" can be consumed online, while simultaneously reminding viewers of the need to verify the original and surrounding context when encountering edited short-form content.