NCT is under fire once again, this time for their use of Islamic imagery as a background image for their performances. Netizens were quick to point it out and are blaming the ignorance on the part of the production crew and the members for this. This allegation is the recent one among a slew of accusations leveled against the group for cultural appropriation. Recently, the group received huge backlash for allegedly mocking Indian culture during their M! Countdown stage. Simultaneously, Netizens had expressed their disapproval of NCT U's use of a traditional Indian mosque as the background image for their 'Make A Wish (Birthday Song)' teaser. The issue flew under the radar at the time, but it has been brought up once again as it cannot be avoided anymore as a mistake when the group repeated the exact background image for their showcase.
At the end of their stage, the members, starting from Taeyong, the leader, and extending to Xiaojun and Shotaro, imitated a classical Indian dance pose. Still, fans believe it was done irreverently, not show respect to the dance form or the culture. Instead, it was used as something more like an action done to evoke laughter. This was mainly the reason why most Netizens were disappointed with this behavior.
Following this controversy, fans drafted an email demanding an apology from SM Entertainment that read as such:
"NCT members' actions that hurt South Asians and a demand for an apology
To SM Entertainment,
After NCT's recent "Make a Wish (Birthday Song)" M! Countdown stage was broadcast (201022), international fans are upset. NCT members TAEYONG, XIAOJUN, and SHOTARO, were seen mocking mudras/desis, and it is offensive to people who are desi (people belonging to the Indian subcontinent). Mudras are very important to South Asians. Previously, MARK and TEN also did it in SuperM's Beyond Live while performing "Line 'Em Up." Also, members XIAOJUN and YANGYANG uploaded a TikTok, which was offensive to Desis. The TikTok was taken down, but no statements were made, so I hope we get a statement.
Many NCTzens are from different cultures, and they ask to be respected. NCTzens are asking for an apology.
NCTzens want to inform the company of this culture and educate NCT members. NCTzens love NCT, but some are hurt by the company and artist actions."
On Sunday's performance of 'Make A Wish (Birthday Song)' on Inkigayo, the Islamic imagery was repeated as a background image.
Some fans on social media quickly identified the background as the Imam Husayn Shrine, which is both a mosque and the burial site of Husayn ibn Ali - the third Imam (or leader) of Shia Islam and who was a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad - in the city of Karbala in Iraq.
An artistic rendition of a religious text from the shrine could also be seen on stage, raising concerns among the group's fans, both Muslim and otherwise.
It is not difficult to point out that the entire music video, in the first place, uses oriental imagery, which can easily be referred to as cultural appropriation. Despite such disapproval of their behavior, neither NCT nor SM Entertainment has responded to the same.
