SEVENTEEN Makes Quick Apology for The Teaser Controversy...However No Response To Joshua's Dating Rumors

SEVENTEEN’s 11th mini album ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN’,
Controversy over teaser video featuring the Great Wall of China as the background,
The agency responded quickly to this but why not to the rumors of Joshua dating?

 

(MHNSPORTS Heewon Kim reporter) While SEVENTEEN is about to make a comeback for their 11th mini album, they have apologized to Chinese fans regarding the controversy of their teaser content. Now, the constant silence of the agency on SEVENTEEN's member JOSHUA's romantic relationship rumors raised by Chinese fans become a hot topic once again.

On the 24th of last month, the agency Pledis Entertainment posted a statement on SEVENTEEN's official SNS regarding the teaser video of their 11th mini album 'SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN' picturing Beijing.

사진=플레디스 엔터테인먼트

 

The post stated, "The teaser video for the Beijing version of SVT RIGHT HERE (one of the promotional contents of the 11th mini album) was produced with chamomile flowers in the background of the Great Wall of China, a representative cultural heritage symbolizing China. After the video was released, fans pointed out that there was a lack of cultural understanding and respect for the Great Wall of China" the agency said. "We quickly deleted the Beijing version video, and we apologize for the inconvenience to our fans and will pay more attention in the future."

Earlier on the 23rd of last month, Pledis Entertainment released a teaser video for their 11th mini album 'SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN' set in famous places of Seoul, Paris, Tokyo, and New York. However, there was a public uproar over the Beijing video among Chinese fans who are sensitive to cultural heritage. China is a country with high pride in cultural heritage, with strict punishment for cultural heritage-related crimes. In particular, China has reportedly banned filming and artistic activities at cultural and historical locations since the film "Mugeuk," which was known to seriously damage the natural landscape during filming in 2004.

 

As such, the agency Pledis Entertainment was applauded for quickly responding to the criticism of Chinese netizens, but sometime around August, a Chinese netizen brought up a rumor of the romantic relationship between JOSHUA (real name Hong Ji-soo) and influencer Cho, after this post was made, with a few picture "proving" the rumor, JOSHUA has been dominating the news and social media posts. JOSHUA has remained silent about this rumor until now.

The netizen, who raised rumors of the romantic relationship of JOSHUA, cited evidence that JOSHUA and Cho, a model, are matching their instagram posts like what couples usually do. The netizen stated that there were photos of them wearing the same accessories, that they took pictures at the same place but posted on a different time, that Cho's video contained the sound of JOSHUA's laughter, that they both set their SNS profile as their own baby photos, and that they have the same phone case.

In addition, during the concert "FOLLOW TO SEOUL" held at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul in July, Cho's appearance in the invitation seat was captured through live online broadcasting, further raising the rumor. In response, Chinese fans staged a truck protest in front of the HYBE's office building demanding JOSHUA's withdrawal from SEVENTEEN.

Furious fans made criticism focused on JOSHUA's deception toward his fans rather than rumors of his romantic relationship. All the contents raised by Chinese netizens are only suspicions, but from the viewpoint of it being true, JOSHUA, who had less communication with fans than other SEVENTEEN members, used his SNS account, which was made to communicate with fans, as a couple's luvstagram, leaving traces of his relationship with his rumored lover, Cho, which can be seen as a deceptive behavior for fans who sent JOSHUA support through his SNS.

JOSHUA, on his way to departure from Japan in August after rumors of a romantic relationship emerged, showed a smile, but appeared somewhat thin as if he were struggling. In addition, during the concert held at Tokyo Dome in Japan on the 6th, he showed his affection for Carats (official fandom name) and showed tears.

Pledis Entertainment quickly dealt with the controversy of the teaser content, meaning they take quick action to the public's comments. However, JOSHUA, influencer Cho, and Pledis Entertainment have consistently failed to respond to JOSHUA's romantic relationship rumors.

The 10th mini album of SEVENTEEN, 'FML,' which was released in April, surpassed 6.2 million cumulative sales in about two months, setting a new record for sales of SEVENTEEN's own record, the highest sales record for a single K-pop album, and becoming the only artist to exceed 3 million sales on the first day of the album's release worldwide.

Expectations are high for SEVENTEEN's new comeback, the 11th mini album 'SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN,' said to release on the 23rd, but the constant rumors and the silence of JOSHUA and his agency is causing a sad reaction from the Carats.