On-loan Tottenham midfielder Taarabt was heckled by some fans after he squandered a second-half chance instead of passing to Akos Buzsaky, who could have completed his hat-trick.
Moroccan Taarabt, 20, reacted by waving his arms at them and cupping his ear with his hand.
QPR manager Magilton is still a fan of Taarabt and said: “He’s a wonderful footballer and at times he will infuriate everyone like he infuriates me. But he’s very much a prized asset of ours. If he’s reacted he’s been a little bit silly, but that’s what you get with talented footballers.”
Flavio Briatore, the QPR chairman, was conspicuous by his absence at Loftus Road and missed a superb passing performance that brought goals from Mikele Leigertwood, Buzsaky (2), Ben Watson and Jay Simpson, while Stephen Foster and Andy Gray gave Barnsley some compensation as Rangers eased up at the start of the second half.