SEVENTEEN’s Joshua Falsely Accused Of Using Phone During Fan Video Call? What We Know

For K-pop enthusiasts, fan signings and events are highly anticipated occasions as they offer a rare chance to meet and greet favourite stars up close. Following the COVID-19 lockdowns, many groups including SEVENTEEN, transitioned to holding these events online. This shift allowed fans from around the globe to participate, making it easier for them to connect with their idols. However, even these virtual meetups are not without controversy. Recently, an online video call event with SEVENTEEN’s Joshua sparked significant discussion online.

On June 8, as reported by Koreaboo, Joshua took part in video calls as part of the group’s comeback activities. In a post shared on social media, a fan claimed that Joshua was distracted by his phone while they were talking. The fans also expressed frustration and pointed out that they pay very high prices for participating in one of these calls.

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

Winning a spot in a fan call can cost fans thousands of dollars, which makes these events extremely special. Thus, an idol being distracted or uninterested during a call can feel like a huge letdown, informs Koreaboo.

However, the truth behind the fan’s accusation was soon revealed. On the same day, another account on X shared their interaction with Joshua. This person explained that they had asked Joshua to sing part of SEVENTEEN’s song Hug. Joshua, unable to remember the lyrics, looked them up on his phone. The post read: “I asked Shua to sing it because I love Hug so much, but because he couldn’t remember the lyrics well, he searched on his phone. While searching, he said sorry haha.”

Fans with a keen eye on social media noticed that this clip matched the description provided by the fan who accused Joshua of using his phone during the video call. By comparing the two posts using an overlay effect, many concluded that the initial accusation might have been exaggerated to make Joshua look bad.

Joshua has reportedly been grappling with negative attention since rumours of his dating life surfaced in 2023. In response to the incident, fans have called upon his label, PLEDIS Entertainment, to take action by banning those who spread false information from participating in future events.