In the whirlwind world of K-pop fandoms, interactions between idols and fans are cherished moments, often serving as highlights of an artist's career. However, a recent incident involving SEVENTEEN Joshua has sparked controversy and shed light on the complexities of fan interactions in the digital age.

On June 8, during an online fan call event following SEVENTEEN's latest comeback, Joshua found himself at the center of a storm of accusations.

A fan took to social media to express their frustration, claiming that Joshua seemed distracted by his phone during their conversation.

The fan's post quickly gained traction, fueling outrage among supporters who highlighted the substantial costs associated with participating 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?"

However, the narrative took an unexpected turn when another fan account surfaced with a different perspective. According to this account, during the same call, they had asked Joshua to sing a part of SEVENTEEN's song "Hug."

Joshua, unable to recall the lyrics, resorted to searching for them on his phone, apologizing for the inconvenience.

240608 영통 포옹 2024ver.

포옹 노래가 너무 좋아서 슈아에게 부탁했는데ㅠㅠㅠ가사가 잘 기억이 안나서 핸드폰으로 검색해보니👀👀
검색해보면서 미안하다고 하네요ㅋㅋㅋ #조슈아 #Joshua #세븐틴 #Seventeen pic.twitter.com/0I7z9jCebV

— 양념치키 (@OnightC) June 8, 2024

This revelation led to a flurry of responses from fans who compared the two accounts, pointing out discrepancies and suggesting a deliberate attempt to tarnish Joshua's reputation.

They always tryna pull him into something 😔

— 버m규 (@_bluexhour_) June 10, 2024

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Social media platforms became battlegrounds as supporters rallied behind Joshua, urging his agency, Pledis Entertainment, to take action against those spreading false accusations.

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

— Tokkii (@TOKkiMOkkachino) June 9, 2024

"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."

In response to the outcry, hashtags such as #PLEDIS_PROTECT_JOSHUA began trending, with fans demanding accountability and protection for the artist against unwarranted attacks.

"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 artists

PROTECT YOUR ARTIST
PROTECT 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 incident underscores the challenges faced by idols and their agencies in navigating the intricacies of fan interactions in the digital realm.

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Written by Cassidy Jones

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