Photo credits: Los Angeles Times
Author’s note:
Parasocial relationships have become commonplace in the digital age. Defined as a one-sided relationship in which someone develops an intense sense of connection, intimacy, or familiarity with someone they do not know, such relationships have caused netizens and fans to feel they know everything about their favorite celebrities. However, the recent sexual assault allegations facing K-pop idol Taeil from NCT prove that this is not the case. Fans were left devastated and shocked at these allegations, voicing their surprise that an idol that they loved and trusted could have done such a heinous act. This case has shown that although it is entirely okay to admire a celebrity, one should not allow oneself to get blinded from the truth, which is that a celebrity’s private life is ultimately unknown and may be darker than they anticipate.
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His posters are plastered across her bedroom walls, covering every last inch of the wallpaper. Her phone’s background displays his face. Her school notebooks include drawings of him.
Her eyes are now watering because of him.
The second the news of his sexual assault allegations was released, her first instinct was disbelief. She hastily told herself and her friends not to believe it—the news came up with lies all the time, right?
However, the number of articles on the issue was increasing rapidly. The rumors were true, it seemed. Only a fool wouldn’t believe them, she realized.
Defeatedly, she began tearing apart the posters. Her walls were bare for the first time in months. The tears began to flood down her face.
With the rise of parasocial relationships, the above scenario has become commonplace. Fans, specifically K-pop fans, put their full trust in celebrities who they do not know, yet feel that they do. When these celebrities are exposed as bad people, fans feel betrayed.
Most recently, this scenario has happened to fans of one of the members of the K-pop boy band NCT known as Taeil. On August 28, the company that NCT is under, SM Entertainment, released a statement about Taeil. In a social media post, they announced, “We have recently learned that Taeil has been accused in a criminal case related to a sexual offense. As we were assessing the facts related to the matter, we recognized the severity of the situation and determined that Taeil can no longer continue his activities with the team (NCT). After discussing with Taeil, we have decided on his departure from the group.”
SM Entertainment claimed that the former idol was “currently cooperating fully” with a police investigation into the matter. No further details were disclosed about the allegations.
The Seoul Bangbae Police Station has voiced that an accuser filed a complaint regarding sexual assault against Taeil in June 2024. SM Entertainment has stated that they were first made aware of the complaint in mid-August, approximately two months after the complaint was filed. The police began investigating the case on August 28, which was the same day that Taeil’s exit from NCT was announced.
Taeil’s case mirrors numerous previous instances. His departure from NCT occurred nearly two months after Johnny and Haechan, two other NCT members, were accused of being involved in a sex scandal. These accusations surfaced on the internet but were strongly denied by SM Entertainment. The company even threatened legal action against the social media accounts that were spreading such rumors, stating, “We have already gathered sufficient evidence regarding numerous posts related to these matters … we will not overlook such criminal acts and will take legal action against those involved without leniency or settlement, regardless of their nationality.”
Thus, accusations of sexual misconduct are not new in the realm of K-pop. The contrasting reactions between the case of Taeil and the case of Johnny and Haechan indicate that Taeil’s case is backed by sufficient evidence.
The commonalities of such accusations and the instance of Taeil in which the accusations were acknowledged as true prove that fans should not put their full trust in their favorite celebrities. Although it may seem as though some celebrities have shared various aspects of their personal life with their fans, in reality, fans nearly never truly know a celebrity whom they admire.
Celebrities can be admired, but they should not be placed on a pedestal. They should not be seen as those who can do no wrong. They should not be entirely trusted over more concrete, substantial evidence, because this nonsensical treatment of celebrities leaves their victims neglected rather than brought to justice, and allows criminals to run free.
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Works Cited
Dailey, Hannah. “NCT’s Taeil Leaves Band Following Sex Crime Accusation, Label Says.” Billboard, 28 August 2024, https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/nct-taeil-leaves-band-sex-crime-accusation-1235762751/.
SMTOWN. SM엔터테인먼트입니다. 28 August 2024. X, https://x.com/SMTOWNGLOBAL/status/1828732513101152352.
Zhan, Jennifer. “What to Know About Taeil’s Sex-Crime Allegations.” Vulture, 1 September 2024, https://www.vulture.com/article/taeil-nct-sex-crime-allegations-investigation.html.
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