I don’t trade news. I find it very difficult to trade as the uncertainty in the market increases manifold.
Trading forex during any news release is way too difficult and risky due to the increased volatility of the market. I too avoid trading at such times.
Yes, the main reason why I advise against exotic pairs is because of the widening spreads, especially during news events, and because they are complex with lower liquidity.
I avoid them because exotic pairs are unpredictable and if you are trying to scalp with them, it is a bad strategy because of wide spreads.
If you are a beginner trader, I suggest avoiding trading with exotic currency pairs because their spreads widen and become risky due to increased volatility.