There was a rumor (I don't remember the forum), but the rumor seems to come from fan threads and online forums, where fans speculate about decisions the agency made regarding group final lineup. Some fans believe that Joy was almost kicked out of the group in favor of another potential member, and that Irene, being one of the most popular, would have been a natural choice to be part of the group.
It was difficult for Joy at that time, but she managed to become part of the group. Also, when you look at RV content in general, Irene herself isn’t very close to anyone (except Seulgi, I guess).
I don’t know why, but I feel a bad vibe between the two.
Now that I see the article again about Joy wanting to leave her group and SM, it didn’t even surprise me. The main reason was, of course, the way SM handled RV, but I suspect she might have had conflicts with some members.
Again, this is not a fact or something that can be proven with evidence. just a perspective view on RV.
Maybe that's just me and my delulu mind 😂 but that's how I feel