Taipei — A recent high-profile musical collaboration involving Asian megastars Jay Chou, Mayday’s Ashin, and three former members of the iconic group F4 has ignited public speculation after the fourth member, Ken Chu (Chu Hsiao-tien), was excluded from both a new single and an upcoming concert tour. The song, “Forever Forever,” featuring Ashin, Chou, Jerry Yan, Vanness Wu, and Vic Chou, has already amassed over 15 million views on YouTube, setting the stage for a December 19 concert tour. However, Chu’s non-participation has led to intense scrutiny, prompting the actor and singer to publicly address the controversy, asserting a unilateral severance of ties by the organizing record label.
Speaking via a livestream on November 8, Chu refuted circulating rumors suggesting he was removed due to previous controversial public statements. Instead, he claimed that after declining three specific requests from the record company, he was abruptly cut off from communication. Chu stated that he learned of his official “withdrawal” from the F4 reunion plans only through media reports, emphasizing that he does not have a contract with B’in Music, the agency orchestrating the event. He criticized the label’s senior management for allegedly employing an approach of “slander and mudslinging” rather than direct conversation.
“The internet chatter is confusing, so I felt compelled to respond,” Chu explained during the broadcast. “I will definitely not be participating in this event, which is regrettable. F4 represents a symbol of a generation’s memories, but we were never a group bound by formal contracts.”
Chu maintained that he understood and supported the decisions of his three former bandmates and offered his best wishes for the tour’s success. He expressed hope that a complete reunion could occur in the future if all four members shared a unified vision.
Addressing the executive at B’in Music who spearheaded the reunion effort, Chu issued a pointed challenge: “If you dislike me or feel I am unsuitable for the performance, you could simply tell me. I could cooperate. There is no need for slandering.”
He questioned the motives behind the alleged smear campaign, implying the label might have sought a dramatic public apology or a desperate plea for inclusion. Chu noted that the label initially sought to capitalize on shared youthful memories of the group but failed to uphold that spirit in their current dealings, concluding with a plea for the executive to “show mercy.”
In response to Chu’s detailed claims, B’in Music, which manages Mayday, offered a terse “No comment.” Meanwhile, Mayday’s often low-profile manager, known as “Xiao Rou Bao,” posted a cryptic message on social media urging someone to “look at yourself first,” which many observers interpreted as an indirect counter-response to Chu’s accusations.
Ashin had previously acknowledged the complications surrounding the reunion, sharing that B’in Music’s Chief Operating Officer, “Sister Ai,” had dedicated two years to facilitating the F4 regrouping, flying extensively to create a moment of shared nostalgia. While Ashin reiterated that the current lineup was not the “most complete” configuration, he suggested the effort to present the full quartet remained an ongoing goal.
However, following Chu’s public statements detailing the contentious negotiations and subsequent breakdown in communication, industry experts now believe the possibility of F4 performing with its original, complete lineup has become significantly more remote. The dispute highlights the often complex legal and personal dynamics involved in reviving beloved music groups after long hiatuses.
