SM Entertainment Comes Under Fire For Allegedly Unfair Treatment Of NCT 127’s Taeil

SM Entertainment faces criticism from NCTzens for its allegedly unfair treatment of NCT 127‘s Taeil in the group’s recent comeback, 2 Baddies.

Taeil | @nct127/Instagram

As the main vocal of the group, Taeil has more than proved his talent over the years. Fans have always expressed pride in his insane vocal range, as well as in how he always gives his all for every comeback and every performance.

this one’s for my moon taeil enjoyers as well as non-enjoyers pic.twitter.com/nSMsGO9Rbl

— heebs 2 BADDIES (@moonhbss) March 9, 2022

Like all his members, Taeil was excited for 2 Baddies, despite the fact that it falls right in the middle of a schedule so busy that members Mark and Haechan caused concern after revealing they had to get an IV drip.

NCT 127 | @NCTsmtown_127/Twitter

Fans were just as excited to see him, of course, especially after he exhibited his talent so impressively in Sticker last year. Yet, despite all the love that NCTzens show for Taeil and for his vocals, his screentime in the “2 Baddies” MV proved to be substantially less than that of his members.

| @neomark09/TikTok

MV 2 Baddies (질주) time 244 seconds (4.04 mins)
Taeil’s time total 7 seconds

This is from No.1 entertainment?
#TaeilDeservesBetter pic.twitter.com/WmIVyiDudG

— hoop (@hoopniran) September 18, 2022

When the group’s MV reaction video was released, Taeil soon went viral as fans noticed what looked like disappointment on his face.

mood pic.twitter.com/nXVXUevQvK

— (@ekfxodlf) September 18, 2022

I usually will say he's spacing out and cute but not when I know they're shooting this after he watch that mv #TAEILDESERVESBETTER pic.twitter.com/G88soQXhV8

— fik (@moonidance) September 18, 2022

NCT 127’s management was promptly questioned for releasing a video where a member looked noticeably upset…

why would y'all be comfortable releasing this vid when taeil looks visibly upset https://t.co/i33vNGeXkH

— mel (@fantastaeil) September 18, 2022

…and fans strongly called out the company for unfair treatment of Taeil, especially considering how essential his unique vocals are to NCT 127’s music.

taeil is an angel because i would absolutely be ruining everyone’s day after shit like this #TaeilDeservesBetter pic.twitter.com/0xP4UEsRud

— mars (@taeildreamie) September 18, 2022

Trust me.. his vocal is main foundation of almost all nct’s songs.. he deserves better.. #TaeilDeservesBetter https://t.co/MbWMfZAIOg

— nanorenxiao (@nanorenxiao) September 18, 2022

They pointed out that Taeil works just has hard as all the other members, yet his efforts are never rewarded fairly.

sm please be fair to your artists! taeil only had seconds of screen time at the music video. as you can see his reaction at their reaction video for the mv he looks sad and disappointed. he doesn’t deserve to be threatened unfairly. he worked hard for this comeback.

— loffy (@hyckflmz) September 18, 2022

every year taeil talks about how much he likes their new song and looks forward to the mv. he spends the same amount of time on set as everyone else, and every year his effort and hard work are not properly shown#TaeilDeservesBetter

— (@ekfxodlf) September 18, 2022

remember two years ago, his producer friend uploaded various stories of taeil in his studio making music, in the last one he wrote the text "sm please". not only they don't give him his place in the group, but they also don't let him do his damn music alone#TaeilDeservesBetter pic.twitter.com/mDNm4qIIXr

— taeil old/rare pics ³³ (@taeiloldpics) September 18, 2022

And to make things worse, this is far from the first time that fans of Taeil have had this complaint.

the worst thing abt this whole situation with taeil is that it's not a one off instance. it's him repeatedly not getting what he deserves over a span of multiple comebacks and multiple years, him being all excited for a cb only to have it ruined when he sees his effort wasted

— muer (@slayningz) September 18, 2022

some ppl got shocked abt taeil reaction for 2 baddies but it's more sad bcs this is happened for every era except for sticker

— fik (@moonidance) September 18, 2022

#TaeilDeservesBetter this isnt new remember he was the most excited abt favorite yet he was the only one in the group to not have a special set/scene & they removed his sleeping scene that we saw in the teaser video, his parts were replaced by some cgipic.twitter.com/YihFcHDph5

— (@neoichil) September 18, 2022

Consequently, #TaeilDeservesBetter has been trending on Twitter as fans demand respect and more just treatment of Taeil going forward.

While neither the company nor the members of NCT 127 have spoken on the issue, hopefully, NCTzens will get to see more of Taeil in the future!