"STOP S*XUALIZING SEVENTEEN"- Fans defend SEVENTEEN's S.Coups and Mingyu as CxM sub-unit name sparks unintended suggestive interpretations

On September 5, 2025, SEVENTEEN’s new sub-unit announcement drew unexpected debate online. S.Coups and Mingyu revealed their official team name “CxM,” an abbreviation formed from their initials. This comes as they gear up to release their first mini-album, Hype Vibes, on September 29.

While fans were initially excited about the project, the name quickly became a topic of discussion among international fans, particularly English speakers. Many pointed out that the abbreviation looked similar to a suggestive term in English. It led to viral jokes and misinterpretations across platforms like Reddit, TikTok, and X.

Explaining the unit's name on Weverse, S.Coups told a fan that it simply means, "CoupMin." Here's the fan and idol's interaction as translated by an X user, @svtranslation:

The fan asked:

"i want to know the true hidden meaning behind this unit name. i know it’s an abbreviation for coup & mingyu, but you know very well (what it means) ㅋㅋ"

S.Coups replied:

"isn’t it just coupmin?"

Amidst the wave of commentary, many SEVENTEEN’s fans stepped in to defend the duo. They stressed that the name was simply derived from their initials and that attaching explicit connotations was unnecessary. An X user, @aliciaciya, wrote:

"STOP S*XUALIZING SEVENTEEN CXM AS WHAT? CUM? GTFO PERVERTS!!"

Some argued that non-Korean fans were projecting meanings that the artists never intended. They pointed out that cultural differences often cause names to be perceived differently in English-speaking contexts. Others urged critics to stop overanalyzing.

The discussion also drew humor, with some fans joking about previous SEVENTEEN naming quirks like “Burstday” and laughing at how the group tended to unintentionally create terms that sounded unusual in English.

Still, the larger sentiment across fandom platforms was that critics should refrain from imposing suggestive meanings on something that was clearly meant to be straightforward.

More on SEVENTEEN’s CxM unit and upcoming release

The sub-unit marks SEVENTEEN’s fourth official unit after BSS, Jeonghan x Wonwoo (JxW), and Hoshi x Woozi (HxW). Their debut mini-album Hype Vibes is set to be released on September 29. The pre-orders are already open through Weverse and other platforms.

The teaser video, filmed in Los Angeles, introduced a playful late-summer aesthetic with scenes of S.Coups and Mingyu enjoying laid-back moments and beachside party vibes.

The timing of this debut is notable, as SEVENTEEN is entering a new chapter with several members preparing for or already beginning their military service. Hoshi and Woozi are expected to enlist soon, while Mingyu will eventually need to serve, though his date has not yet been confirmed.

Meanwhile, S.Coups is exempt due to a previous ACL injury. Other members, including The8, Jun, and Joshua, who are not required to enlist due to their foreign citizenship, have shared plans to continue creative projects during this period.

As part of their 10th anniversary celebrations, the group has also confirmed that solo and unit releases will continue to ensure fans receive new content while group activities slow down.

The U.S. leg of the group’s NEW_ World Tour in October is expected to be their next major activity together.

About the author

Mantasha is a pop culture writer at Sportskeeda who covers K-pop and K-drama. She has recently completed her Masters in English and has a rich 3-year writing experience where she crafted engaging content for top companies such as Unacademy, Apollo Hospitals, Adani Airports, and the Economic Times. Her experience has helped her create a strong foundation that complements her passion for creating the best content related to K-pop, K-dramas and Korean movies.

Mantasha's interest in pop culture took root when her cousin introduced her to classic Hollywood and Bollywood tunes and the rest, as they say, is history. Mantasha’s connection with K-pop supergroup BTS is a special one as their song lyrics, hard work, and dedication resonate with her like no other group does.

Maintaining accuracy, relevance, and ethics in her reporting is extremely essential for Mantasha. She prioritizes thorough research, delving deep beyond just superficial sources, to ensure comprehensive and trustworthy information.

When not writing, Mantasha enjoys journaling and doodling, watching K-dramas and listening to songs.

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Edited by Riya Peter