EXO ex-member Tao sparks health scare after fans notice ‘purple lips’ on livestream

Tao / Captured from Tao's social media

Former EXO member Tao has found himself at the center of a sudden health scare after fans pointed out what they described as “abnormally purple lips” during a recent livestream.

The incident unfolded while Tao was broadcasting with his wife, Xu Yiyang. Some viewers flooded the chat with concern, saying his lip color looked unusual and urging him to undergo a heart checkup.

Tao initially brushed off the comments, appearing unconcerned. However, Xu reacted differently, telling him, “Don’t say that — you should really get it checked,” showing visible worry during the broadcast.

As speculation spread online, Xu addressed the situation on April 7, saying Tao had already undergone a basic health checkup last year and plans to receive a more detailed examination this year.

Tao / Captured from Hong Jin-kyung's YouTube channel

Tao debuted in 2012 as a member of EXO, one of K-pop’s most globally recognized groups, before leaving the group in 2015 and returning to China to pursue a solo career. Xu, his wife, is a former trainee under SM Entertainment. The couple went public with their relationship in 2020 and held their wedding in Sanya, Hainan province, in October last year.

Recently, Tao has also drawn attention for his business ventures. He launched a sanitary pad brand after being shocked by a Chinese consumer watchdog program that exposed a company reselling discarded products at low prices.

In February, he appeared on Korean broadcaster Hong Jin-kyung’s YouTube channel, where he said his company sold 150 million units and generated about 30 billion won ($22 million) in revenue within just three months, further fueling online buzz.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.