The dating scandal of SEVENTEEN’s Joshua is getting worst, with new gossip spreading online every day. The rumors began in early August after netizens reported an alleged romance between the K-pop idol and an influencer due to matching outfits and accessories.
These rumors garnered the artist severe backlash as Chinese fans sent protest trucks to PLEDIS Entertainment. However, the managing label didn’t release any statement.
Subsequently, the fans organized protest Porsches to parade in the streets of Seoul. This project is titled China Porsche A, and it features a series of luxury cars that travel around SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment before returning to HYBE LABELS.
These Porsches are supposed to jab at the rumor that Joshua gifted a luxury car to his alleged girlfriend. Additionally, demanding he resigns from the popular group.
In this article, we provide a timeline of the dating rumors, including PLEDIS Entertainment’s controversial silence and explanation of Block B U-Kwon getting hate in the controversy.
How did SVT Joshua’s dating rumors begin?
On August 6, netizens began to speculate that SEVENTEEN‘s Joshua is dating an influencer model Mi Young due to a suspicious amount of couple items. They accused them of flaunting their alleged relationships on social media. Meanwhile, the Super singer’s fans, CARATs, laughed off these claims by stating that it was his private matter.
Real footage of a couple buying matching clothes pic.twitter.com/bhGQQsmf2R https://t.co/ueSRUXllzM
— َ (@jwwsan) August 7, 2023
On August 10, a netizen posted that some Chinese fans were protesting in front of Joshua’s management label PLEDIS Entertainment. They organized a couple of trucks with hoardings demanding the resignation of the 27-year-old singer to drive around the building.
- For the unversed, these protest trucks are a famous way of opposing and making demands from the management of K-pop idols. This opposition can range from hair color and division of lines to larger scandals, including the relationship and marriage of the artist.
PLEDIS Entertainment’s controversial silence
Following the publication of the dating rumors, fans and netizens began to shower hate comments on the social media handles of the alleged couple. They also trended various hashtags demanding strong action against Joshua for his alleged half-hearted behavior toward fans.
This is not about dating this is about your artist being harrassed, badmouthed his privacy being invaded PLEASE SUE@pledis_17jp @pledisnews @pledis_17 @pledis17_STAFF #플레디스_보호하라_조슈아#명예훼손으로부터_조슈아_보호하다#PLEDIS_PROTECT_JOSHUA#PLEDIS_PROTECT_YOUR_ARTISTS
— ZAR (@Z0LIZA) August 13, 2023
- In light of the rising cyber tension, a Korean media outlet EToday published an article about the lack of a statement from PLEDIS. They stated that this silence about accepting or refuting the allegations keeps the hate against the SEVENTEEN member and Mi Young alive.
- CARATs are also divided about PLEDIS not giving any official statement. Some are urging the management to break their silence and condemn the raging rumors and cyberbullying, and many are stating that their silence is already deafening.
Block B’s U-Kwon gets tangled in Joshua’s dating scandal – explained
Block B’s U-Kwon‘s role in the ongoing dating rumors is unexpected. While explaining the reasons behind fans’ protest against Joshua, a netizen shared that it regards his alleged half-hearted treatment towards his fans rather than his dating.

- To this statement, another netizen responded that Joshua’s actions don’t deserve criticism. They further gave an example of controversial treatment by recalling U-Kown’s approach toward his fans after announcing his relationship in the past.
- The Nillili Mambo singer shared a screenshot of this conversation on his Instagram handle with the caption ‘What?’. This response resurfaced the images of his allegedly cold answers to fans during the fan signing.

All of these controversies are raising criticism for Korean Entertainment which treats dating rumors as scandals. Many K-pop fans are also concerned about the ill effects of the cyberbullying that artists face from the rumors.
What is your opinion about SEVENTEEN Joshua’s dating rumors? Share with us in the comments below. For more content, stay with us here at Spiel Times. Make sure you subscribe to our push notifications and never miss an update. You can also follow us on Spiel Anime, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Until next time!