Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
SEVENTEEN's The8 was long seen as one of K-pop's most unproblematic idols, but back to back controversies in 2026 have fans questioning that image. It started at the MIDOU Music Festival in Nanjing, where viewers claimed a remix in The8's DJ set contained a sacred Islamic hymn known as a Nasheed. Muslim fans said its use in a festival setting was deeply hurtful, and with no statement or apology from The8 or Pledis Entertainment in the months since, the silence has become a controversy of its own — though many fans argue he likely never knew the track contained religious content, since the original song's credits gave no indication of it.
Then in July, a video allegedly showing The8 at a nightclub spread across Chinese social media, reigniting the debate over his image. Pledis responded with an official statement on Weibo describing the circulating posts as false rumors and malicious speculation, and warned of possible legal action. The statement also named Jun, who had been linked to a separate hotel rumor — one that quickly fell apart, as he was reportedly in China filming at the time, with coworkers publicly confirming his whereabouts. His fans were left frustrated that he was grouped into the situation at all.
So is SEVENTEEN's controversy-free reputation actually fading, or has all of this been blown out of proportion? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Subscribe to Kookielit for more K-pop news, controversies, and industry breakdowns — we do it kinder here.
#kpop #kpopnews #KOOKIELIT
SEVENTEEN's The8 was long seen as one of K-pop's most unproblematic idols, but back to back controversies in 2026 have fans questioning that image. It started at the MIDOU Music Festival in Nanjing, where viewers claimed a remix in The8's DJ set contained a sacred Islamic hymn known as a Nasheed. Muslim fans said its use in a festival setting was deeply hurtful, and with no statement or apology from The8 or Pledis Entertainment in the months since, the silence has become a controversy of its own — though many fans argue he likely never knew the track contained religious content, since the original song's credits gave no indication of it.
Then in July, a video allegedly showing The8 at a nightclub spread across Chinese social media, reigniting the debate over his image. Pledis responded with an official statement on Weibo describing the circulating posts as false rumors and malicious speculation, and warned of possible legal action. The statement also named Jun, who had been linked to a separate hotel rumor — one that quickly fell apart, as he was reportedly in China filming at the time, with coworkers publicly confirming his whereabouts. His fans were left frustrated that he was grouped into the situation at all.
So is SEVENTEEN's controversy-free reputation actually fading, or has all of this been blown out of proportion? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Subscribe to Kookielit for more K-pop news, controversies, and industry breakdowns — we do it kinder here.
#kpop #kpopnews #KOOKIELIT
