NCT Member’s New Album Teaser Bashed For Allegedly Copying BTS’s “Swim”

Recently, NCT’s Taeyong dropped a teaser video for his upcoming first album, WYLD, and received unexpected criticism online.

TAEYONG 태용 'WYLD' Clip pt. 5https://t.co/aT3wOoCH0E

TAEYONG 【WYLD – The 1st Album】
➫ 2026.05.18 6PM (KST)

💿 Pre-save&add&orderhttps://t.co/i6PRrJ2K3U

EVERYTHING, ALL AT ONCE, NEOhttps://t.co/cXqEtSCTSI #TAEYONG #태용#WYLD #TAEYONG_WYLD #NCT #NCT127… pic.twitter.com/Q2LQzzOE7D

— NCT (@NCTsmtown) May 7, 2026

Many ARMYs felt that his teaser clip was similar to BTS‘s “Swim” music video, which featured a ship.

damn was bts's swim mv props were at 50% sale? pic.twitter.com/WNPOK0bJ9D

— 🀥 𝄢 (@tomielvvs_) May 10, 2026

“Arirang” isn’t even one year old yet and it already has thousands of cheap sons omg free her 😭 pic.twitter.com/bWlVKcDYk7

— isa (@solmerv) May 10, 2026

However, NCTzens hit right back, baffled that people were bashing him for using a concept that has been existing in media for ages.

it's either you're living in the mountains or a fucking 10 year old to have beef to people using things like boats that have been existing in movies, music videos, concepts, and art https://t.co/HPmRIam7PI

— TAEYONG_WYLD 18th May 2026‼️ (@mieyongyongyong) May 10, 2026

Fans also emphasized that Taeyong enlisted in the Navy, which is why could be why he used this certain concept.

ah yes … the guy who’s actually been in the navy is stealing now a one second clip of a ship … the more yall run around and accuse every group and person out there for stealing the more ridiculous yall look https://t.co/XHWcCgJYiq

— nini wyld ᑦ(◕ ᴗ ◕⁎)ᐣꕤ*.ﾟ (@icednanaricano) May 10, 2026

the man spent almost 2 years of his life in the actual NAVY and can’t even use a ship in his album imagery… https://t.co/ZwUQhy3Vyj

— ari²⁹🐱🍑¹²⁷ (@SUHWONU) May 10, 2026

ok so the idol who was ACTUALLY IN THE FUCKING NAVY for AN ENTIRE YEAR AND A HALF can’t use boat imagery for his album bc bts also did so….. we’re losing the plot so so so bad https://t.co/HOtNY7DgZS

— gia ˖ ࣪⭑☆ ¹²⁷ #NCT12726 ! (@neogotmybangtan) May 10, 2026

Fans just couldn’t wrap their heads around these claims.

liking bts is a sign that someone has an extremely low iq https://t.co/ZKHtq3rJEy

— dee-dee (@tytaped) May 10, 2026

The way army are tuned into nct activities despite their faves releasing their highly anticipated album and being on a world tour like i know they’re lip syncing and stumbling through all their performances but it gets to a point https://t.co/dGeiSXVbnr

— maya angelonew (@miumiuthong) May 10, 2026

NCT