NCT 127 poses as an eight-member group. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Emma Hazard
Arts & Culture Editor
On August 28, SM Entertainment released a statement that Moon Tae-il, more well-known by his stage name Taeil, had been removed from his sub-units of the popular K-pop boy group, NCT, after facing accusations of an unspecified sexual crime.
“We recognized the severity of the situation,” SM Entertainment says in their release discussing Taeil’s separation from the group. “Taeil can no longer continue his activities with the team.”
SM Entertainment also stated that Taeil is cooperating with undergoing a police investigation.
While the police investigations are currently underway, details about Taeil’s allegations have been kept under wraps. However, as fans learned about the allegations, rumors started to circulate online about what crimes may have occurred.
One X user claims that a motorcycle accident that the singer got into sometime last year probably wasn’t a motor vehicle accident at all, but instead was a cover-up for a physical altercation between Taeil and his victim’s family. Fans of the idol were also quick to assume the age of his alleged victim based on the supposed severity of his crimes, concluding that his victim must be a minor.
As this ongoing case continues to rattle the K-pop industry and fans of the genre, many cannot help but be reminded of the dangers of parasocial relationships. If there’s one true thing about K-pop fans, it’s that they can be passionate about their liking for a certain group. In fact, this can be true for any band, no matter the genre. Celebrities have a large presence in our society, so finding information on them through things like interviews can be rather easy. However, celebrities like Taeil can serve as a reminder that no matter how well you may think you know someone, you never know what may be happening behind closed doors.
While there are no plans for any upcoming music releases from either of Taeil’s former NCT sub-units, NCT 127 or NCT U, SM Entertainment has chosen to remove Taeil from any online content, as well as allowing NCT 127 to continue as an eight-member group.