Just days after launching his new unit V8 alongside fellow SEVENTEEN member Vernon, The8 has unexpectedly found himself at the center of a rapidly spreading online controversy.
A short video that allegedly shows the idol smoking while spending time at a nightclub with a woman recently began circulating across Chinese social media, quickly attracting widespread attention from fans and online communities.
As the footage spread, speculation surrounding The8’s private life escalated, with numerous posts making unverified claims about the situation. The controversy grew large enough that his agency responded publicly, releasing an official statement addressing the rumors and warning of possible legal action.
The clip, which first surfaced on Chinese online platforms before spreading to other social media sites, allegedly shows a man believed by some users to be The8 inside a nightclub. In addition to appearing to smoke, the individual is also seen near a woman, leading to further speculation online.
this is the8 in the club with girls while smoking e-cig, jun must be protected even more as he does not cause trouble unlike the8 and mingyu with their clubbing addiction https://t.co/ksl0MPkMmJ pic.twitter.com/tW34YJviWy
— ayato (@thankunexxst) July 2, 2026
However, no independent verification has confirmed the identity of the individual shown in the footage.
As discussions intensified, the agency representing both The8 and fellow SEVENTEEN member Jun published an official statement on Weibo, strongly denying the rumors surrounding the artists.
According to the company, the circulating videos and accompanying claims were “entirely false information and malicious defamation arising from fan conflicts.”
The agency stated that unauthorized photos and videos of both artists had been taken out of context and paired with fabricated speculation that seriously misled the public while damaging their reputations.
The statement emphasized that the spread of the content had negatively affected not only the artists’ public image but also their daily lives and professional activities.
The company further argued that publishing and distributing the materials without permission violated the artists’ portrait rights and reputation rights under Chinese civil law.
In response, the agency announced that it has already collected and preserved evidence related to the posts, accounts, and individuals responsible for spreading the allegations.
It also formally demanded that those involved:
- Immediately delete the false content.
- Stop reposting, commenting on, or further distributing the material.
The company warned that failure to comply could result in legal action.
Beyond addressing those directly responsible, the statement also appealed to fans and the broader online community to approach viral content cautiously.
The agency urged internet users not to believe or spread unverified rumors and encouraged everyone to help maintain what it described as a healthier online environment.
Finally, the company reiterated that it intends to continue monitoring online platforms closely and stated that it “will not tolerate any infringement” of its artists’ legal rights.
Notably, while the statement does not explicitly reference the nightclub video itself, many observers believe it was issued in direct response to the rapidly circulating footage and the speculation that followed.
The controversy comes during an especially active period for The8. He and Vernon recently debuted as SEVENTEEN’s newest subunit V8, placing both artists under increased public attention as promotional activities continue.
At this time, there is no verified evidence confirming that the individual shown in the circulating video is The8, and the agency maintains that the online rumors and related discussions are based on false information and malicious speculation. As a result, the authenticity of the claims remains unconfirmed, while the company says it is prepared to pursue legal action against those responsible for spreading defamatory content.
