HYBE Used Member X Member Ships To Cover SEVENTEEN Joshua’s Dating Scandal
The release of internal documents from HYBE has recently been a hot topic.
The latest set of documents to be spread online included information about various groups, including several under HYBE’s family of companies. This includes SEVENTEEN, with a discussion about Joshua‘s scandal being included.
Last year, rumors alleging that Joshua was in a relationship, along with other details like his suspected girlfriend allegedly attending concerts, circulated. Joshua faced heavy backlash from some SEVENTEEN fans who demanded he leave the group.
Protest Truck Calling For SEVENTEEN Joshua’s Exit Sparks Debate
It seems HYBE was aware of the backlash and even discussed how it could be managed.
The report commented that Joshua’s scandal had deeply impacted Japan and that “measures” needed to be taken to lessen the outrage. These measures included using Seungkwan, who was positively matched with Joshua, but on a hiatus at the time, to “remind” of the latter’s place as a member.
It also commented that Seungkwan’s ship with Jeonghan was positively received.
“Amid the series of events, it’s evident that most fans still want to continue supporting SEVENTEEN. Teamwork is such a significant part of the team’s value, so the majority opinion is not extreme enough to call for Joshua’s withdrawal from the group. However, since this incident has clearly left the fandom hurt, there needs to be something to motivate and drive the fans to just move on. The Japan tour is coming up soon, and fans have shown their reactions by not selling out Joshua’s individual merchandise. For East Asian fans, this issue is a common source of emotional turmoil, but the intensity of their reactions varies significantly. In Japan, where Joshua has been strongly associated with Jeonghan, measures are needed to address this gap. This is why it is crucial for Seungkwan to pull through right now. With the recent popularity of the Yoon & Boo (Jeonghan and Seungkwan) pairing, if they could be promoted more strategically in Japan, it would be beneficial. Even fans who forgave Joshua early on remember the scene in In the SOOP where Joshua looked out for Seungkwan, so Seungkwan’s role has become even more important in highlighting Joshua’s place within the team. As of late, even a single post by Seungkwan on Weverse would noticeably improve the fandom’s mood.”
— HYBE Document
HYBE has seemingly used fan ships to create musical works, which you can read about below.
