SEVENTEEN Member Joshua Accused of Distraction During Fan Call Session

In the ever-changing realm of K-pop fan communities, the exchange between idols and their devoted supporters is highly valued, often representing significant milestones in an artist’s journey. Nevertheless, a recent occurrence involving SEVENTEEN’s Joshua has sparked debate and brought attention to the intricacies of fan interactions in the modern age of technology.

During an online fan call event following SEVENTEEN’s most recent comeback on June 8, Joshua became the subject of numerous accusations.

A fan expressed their frustration on social media, stating that Joshua appeared distracted by his phone while they were talking.

The fan’s post quickly sparked widespread attention and incited anger among supporters who pointed out the significant expenses involved in taking part in such events.

SEVENTEEN’s Joshua Accused Of Being On His Phone During Fan Call — Alleged Truth Sparks Outrage https://t.co/8g2yTWTqWl pic.twitter.com/8eyJ7z6zqx

— Dulce María (@Dulcemkng) June 9, 2024

“I was talking about myself here, when he suddenly laughed while looking at the phone. Did I spend tens of thousands of dollars to watch you play on your phone?”

Nevertheless, the story took a surprising twist when another fan account came to light, offering a contrasting viewpoint. According to this account, during the same phone call, they had requested Joshua to sing a section of “Hug,”a song by SEVENTEEN.

Despite not being able to remember the lyrics, Joshua turned to his phone to find them and apologized for any inconvenience.

240608 Yeongtong Hug 2024 ver. I liked the hug song so much that I asked Shua for itㅠㅠㅠI couldn’t remember the lyrics so I searched it on my phone👀👀 He said he was sorry while searching haha #Joshua #Joshua #Seventeen #Seventeen pic.twitter.com/0I7z9jCebV

— Seasoned Chicken (@OnightC) June 8, 2024

The discovery caused a wave of reactions from fans who drew comparisons between the two versions, highlighting inconsistencies and insinuating a deliberate effort to damage Joshua’s image.

They always tryna pull him into something 😔

— Beomgyu (@_bluexhour_) June 10, 2024

Joshua’s agency, Pledis Entertainment, was urged by his supporters to take action against those spreading false accusations on social media platforms, turning them into virtual battlegrounds.

I hope Pledis implements the same thing as Source Music in taking action against those spreading negative information about their artists. I wanna see how this person beg for leniency

— One (@TOKkiMOkkachino) June 9,

“After this discovery, fans were left under the belief that this was a purposeful attack on Joshua, who has dealt with negativity since his dating rumors in 2023.”

As a result of the public outcry, hashtags like #PLEDIS_PROTECT_JOSHUA started gaining popularity, as fans called for measures to be taken to safeguard the artist from unjustified criticism.

“Pledis have [sic] some time filing petitions & involving themselves in issues that don’t concern them but can’t even protect their own artists.”

Pledis have sm time filing petitions & involving themselves in issues that doesn’t concern them but can’t even protect their own artistsPROTECT YOUR ARTISTPROTECT JOSHUA#PLEDIS_PROTECT_JOSHUA #명예훼손으로부터_조슈아_보호하다 #PLEDIS_PROTECT_YOUR_ARTISTS @pledis17_STAFF pic.twitter.com/TbW73tHbUr

— 𓍯𓂃h (@sound_of_coupsx) June 9, 2024

The event highlights the difficulties idols and their agencies encounter when navigating the complexities of interacting with fans in the online world.