On August 29, industry sources reported that NCT’s Jaehyun, who released his debut solo album “J” on August 26, had indefinitely postponed his fan signing event scheduled for that day. The day before, when news of Taeil’s indictment became public, fellow NCT members Mark and Haechan canceled their fan signing event via video call.
Taeil, the eldest and main vocalist of NCT’s NCT 127 unit, was involved in a motorcycle accident while riding home in August last year and put his activities on hold for a while. While NCT 127 members often mentioned and expressed their longing for him during concerts, Taeil ended up causing harm to the team.
Following his expulsion from NCT the previous day, SM Entertainment and other NCT members quickly unfollowed Taeil’s social media account, signaling a rapid dissociation.
Interestingly, SM Entertainment is generally known for being lenient with its artists, often keeping them despite incidents or scandals, almost as an unwritten rule. However, SM’s quick decision to expel Taeil has sparked curiosity about the details of the allegations. Police revealed that they received a report in June regarding Taeil’s involvement in a sexual crime and filed a complaint against him.
NCT fandom NCTzen, who had been eagerly awaiting Taeil’s return, is now in shock over the news of his expulsion. Although NCT is now SM’s flagship boy group, they didn’t immediately attract attention when they debuted. Initially, their tech-infused concept was seen as a bit complex, but over time they gained recognition for their talent and built a huge fan base, creating strong bonds between the members and fans. Taeil, who was known for his gentle image, left fans particularly stunned by the news of his involvement in a sex crime.
Adding to the disappointment, NCT 127 recently received major awards at various ceremonies, but the group’s reputation has now been tarnished by Taeil’s actions, leaving fans even more disheartened.
Taeil debuted as a member of NCT in 2016, participating in both NCT 127 and NCT U. His expulsion reduced the total number of NCT members from 26 to 25.
Source: Daum
