The Japanese media outlet Shūkan Bunshun has found itself at the center of controversy. On April 4, the outlet released what it claimed to be additional evidence of an alleged relationship between LE SSERAFIM’s Kazuha and &TEAM K. The evidence, presented on their membership page, was teased in an initial article accusing the idols of dating.

The so-called evidence, however, has sparked an outcry and backlash aimed at the outlet. The new evidence presented were photos of the idols wearing similar earrings, as reported by Korean news outlet Xports News. This lack of substantial evidence has led to an outcry from Korean and Japanese netizens who accused the media outlet of using K-Pop idols for views.

Twitter user @beikim0 voiced their frustration, stating, “HYBE and Source Music should immediately sue Shūkan Bunshin. This is the second time they fabricated dating news, so what is holding us back from suing them? I’m confident we won’t lose.”

하이브 쏘스뮤직 지금 당장 주간문춘 고소하시길
이미 두 번이나 당했고 우리가 뭐가 꿇려서 고소를 안 함? 질 자신도 없는데 https://t.co/BbGgxksLHy

— 제빵이 (@beikim0) April 4, 2024

Another Twitter user, @kura39_Hanni, pointed out the outlet’s failure to provide additional evidence, calling it “another embarrassment.” They noted that Shūkan Bunshun reported the rumors of a love affair between Kazuha and K in the paid section of its paper but was unable to provide any other evidence apart from the photo it released at noon on the 3rd.

カズハ·ケイの熱愛を主張..週刊文春、追加証拠提示できずまた「恥さらし」

週刊文春は4日、有料分の紙面にカズハとケイとの熱愛説を報道したが、3日昼12時に公開した写真以外にまた別の証拠を提示できなかった
카즈하·케이 열애주장 주간문춘, 추가증거 제시못해 또 ‘망신살’ https://t.co/nrFFX0AClf

— 『KuraKura ³⁹』 (@Kura39_Hanni) April 4, 2024

Another Twitter user, @eunchaetv_ said “Sigh, Shūkan Bunshin, you guys are doing too much…”

에휴 주간문춘.. 작작해라

— 은채티비 (@eunchaetv_) April 4, 2024

Another Twitter user, @resserafilm said “Of course… Shūkan Bunshin did what Shūkan Bunshin does…”

역시나.. 주간문춘이 주간문춘 했다..

— 리세라필름 (@resserafilm) April 4, 2024

This isn’t the first time Shūkan Bunshun has found itself in hot water over allegations of LE SSERAFIM members being in a relationship. Previously, the outlet claimed Chaewon was dating, using evidence that wasn’t very convincing.

As the story unfolds, the public continues to question the credibility of Shūkan Bunshun’s reporting. The backlash serves as a reminder of the importance of factual accuracy and objectivity in news reporting, even in the realm of entertainment news. As the saying goes, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating,” and in this case, the pudding seems to be lacking in substance.