Joshua, a member of boy group SEVENTEEN, remains silent amid ongoing rumors despite the uproar from fans
Recently, SEVENTEEN Joshua became entangled in dating rumors with a non-celebrity woman. These rumors, which started on social media, have been spreading quickly through online communities.
In particular, Joshua was said to have been publishing “lovestagrams” with his alleged girlfriend (hereinafter referred to as “A”), which are filled with secretive affectionate moments and “couple items”, sparking uproar.
As a result, keywords such as ”Joshua”, “Joshua dating rumors”, and “Joshua girlfriend” have been trending at the top on SNS platform Twitter. Furthermore, due to Joshua and A wearing numerous similar clothes and accessories in their photos, fans have expressed discomfort and attributed it to “outfit sharing.”
If the “lovestagram” posts were true, the situation would escalate. It would be an act of deception, intentionally revealing the relationship to fans, rather than being discovered through media investigations, thereby adding the element of deceit, said Korean media iMBC through Daum.
However, the agency of SEVENTEEN, Pledis Entertainment, which is a subsidiary of HYBE, chose to remain silent instead of confirming or denying the relationship allegations.
According to iMBC, the media outlet has contacted Pledis in the past 2 days and asked for an official statement, only to receive no response. Their approach stood in stark contrast to other agencies, which would usually address rumors and misinformation to discourage speculative articles based on false information.
As time went on, fans became increasingly frustrated. Some criticized Joshua’s lack of communication and accused him of deceitful behavior. Some went as far as speculating “cohabitation”, tarnishing the image of SEVENTEEN as a whole.
While the truth of the dating rumors remains a private matter, iMBC claimed that SEVENTEEN Joshua and Pledis are mocking fans by staying silent, especially when considering their previous activities.
In particular, Pledis Entertainment is known for promoting fiercely and boosting album and concert ticket sales, yet has taken a perplexing approach when rumors emerge.
As Korean culture expands globally and fandoms grow, fan culture is becoming more mature. There is a trend of fans respecting artists’ personal lives and displaying mature fan behavior, even in situations involving romantic relationships. The way agencies handle such situations and communicate can significantly influence fans’ feelings and reactions.
Yet, Pledis’ actions are concerning, especially at the moment, when SEVENTEEN is gearing up for a comeback in October.
Source: Daum
