T.O.P left YG Entertainment when his exclusive contract expired in February 2022. At that time, YG announced: "We respect T.O.P's opinion that he wants to expand his personal activities as well as Big Bang. T.O.P. said he will participate in Big Bang's activities whenever conditions allow."
In May 2023, responding to a fan, T.O.P frankly declared: "I have left the group."
In an interview on January 15, the male rapper spoke for the first time about the reason he decided to leave the group. T.O.P shared: "I am the one who caused great damage to the group Big Bang and the old company (YG) due to the mistakes I made. I left the group because I did not want to continue to cause harm to the company and the members.
The guilt was too great. I felt that if I stayed in the group, my name would be associated with the group as a stain. I couldn't face it, it was really painful."
The reporter mentioned that T.O.P had deleted Big Bang's name on social media, leading to a war of words between fans.
But T.O.P said: “I don’t think there was a war of words. At that time, there were people who wrote very malicious comments. I don’t have any excuses. Honestly, when I faced the darkness at that time, I was not sober because it was something I had never experienced.
I think I was careless and reckless when I chose that method. Thinking back now, it still hurts me. I regret it so much.”
Explaining more clearly about his actions that hurt fans such as deleting Big Bang's name and blocking fan accounts, T.O.P said: "When I read the posts from fans wishing for a reunion, my heart really ached.
When I look at old Big Bang photos posted by fans and tagged in, I feel like I'm looking at a photo of a broken family. It's a pain that can't be described in words.
That doesn't mean I deny my feelings for Big Bang. However, the way I acted at that time was really thoughtless. I want to bow my head once again and express my deepest apology to you all."
In addition, T.O.P confessed that he is currently no longer in contact with the Big Bang members. He still feels a lot of guilt, so he cannot actively contact them again.
When asked if there was any dissuasion from Big Bang members (G-Dragon, Daesung, Taeyang) during his decision to leave the group, T.O.P shared: “There are some vague things in there, but I don't think I can speak for the members who aren't here.”
“My departure from the group happened right after I was discharged from the military,” T.O.P explained, adding that he had been thinking about leaving the group for 5-6 years, when he was expelled from the military for using illegal drugs.
Over the past time, T.O.P has received a lot of criticism and criticism. But the male rapper said he does not feel wronged at all.
“The group and I have received so much love and glory beyond our expectations. I think I have to accept all criticism about my actions,” T.O.P said.
Finally, T.O.P affirmed: "I decided not to return to the group a long time ago. Up to now, I have never changed that thought."
