In August 2024, SM Entertainment announced that Taeil would no longer be an NCT member due to an unprotected sexual crime. As the investigation progressed, more details emerged, revealing the nature of the crime and the duration of the ongoing probe. In October, Sm Entertainment officially interrupted the Toeil contract, pushing the ex -fan control that questioned the management of the situation by the company.
From his departure, Sm Entertainment has canceled traces of taeils from official content and no NCT member had recognized him publicly until Jeno’s recent comment.
During a discussion on it is embarrassing, but okay (Awsaz), a program that combines NCT members who are not particularly close to interacting, Jeno has faced a fans’ comment on how to take a photo Awsaz with Jisung. The topic led him to reflect on his appearance on the show in 2020, where he was combined with Toeil.
While remembering the experience, Jeno abruptly stopped half sentence, visibly realizing the implications of the mention of the name of Toeil. He quickly covered his mouth before carefully reforming his declaration, “Taeil and I— Oops. The member with whom I took the photo of Awsaz … I don’t know if I could say that we became closest friends just because we posed for that photo together. Let’s go on! “
Jeno’s reaction was accepted with responses contrasting by fans. Some are sympathized with the difficult position in which the members were placed, while others hypothesized on the internal management of the start of Toeil within the group. Many have noticed the discomfort of Jeno, interpreting it as an indication of how SME Entertainment could have commissioned members to avoid discussing the controversy.
