K-Pop Company Criticized For “Humiliating” Trainee Group After Publicly Announcing They Won’t Debut

Recently, GRID Entertainment has been releasing a pre-debut show following the journey of trainees on their way to debut.

Recently, the final episode aired.

Yet, after so much investment from fans, many couldn’t hide their anger when the final episode revealed that the group wouldn’t be debuting.

At the end of the video, it was explained that because they didn’t meet the standards, the project was finishing because the company didn’t think they were ready.

They explained that they saw potential, but didn’t see the members ready to debut.

The company then gave the members a decision of if they wanted to stay with the company and continue to train to debut.

Netizens were heartbroken for the trainees, with many sharing how sad they were after growing attached to the members through their journey and hitting back at the company’s treatment.

The screenshots were shared on X.

Grid Trainee failed to debut through their 6-month debut project Idol Till I Die as they didn’t meet the expected standards.

They were given the option to continue training under the company, but it is currently unknown what each member decided. pic.twitter.com/pHCsYUSe7Y

— nugu archive 📁 (@nugupromo) August 17, 2026

Many thought the company was just choosing to humiliate the group, and while it isn’t rare for trainees to not debut if they aren’t ready, doing it on the last episode of a public show wasn’t right.

i’m convinced the ceo just created this show as a humiliation ritual for those poor trainees

— noa (@adapoffcl) August 18, 2026

honestly it’s fine if the staff feels they’re not ready to debut but having this announcement in the last episode of their pre-debut(!!) show is very cruel and humiliating for no reason

— john¹²⁷ 🛩️ (@computercart) August 18, 2026