Fans Are Outraged Over BTS’ RM and J-Hope’s Chris Brown Concert Sighting. Here’s Why

BTS’ RM and J-Hope are in hot water after appearing at a concert by American singer Chris Brown.

On August 12, the two K-pop idols attended Brown’s co-headlining show with Usher at Rogers Stadium just outside Toronto. J-Hope later shared glimpses from the concert on social media, while they were also seen in a backstage photo with the singer.

The posts quickly made the rounds online, with some fans criticizing RM and J-Hope for publicly associating with Brown, whose career has long been marked by various legal controversies. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to assaulting his then-girlfriend and fellow pop star Rihanna, in addition to facing other allegations involving violence.

“[RM, J-Hope], do better and reflect, please,” a fan commented on Brown’s post. “This is literally so disappointing.”

Some ARMYs argued that RM and J-Hope’s attendance did not necessarily amount to an endorsement of Brown or reflect their character. However, others stressed that public figures with vast influence should always be mindful and take into account the implication of their every action — especially in sensitive cases such as interacting with artists who have been seriously accused or convicted of misconduct. One of them pointed out that being a supporter doesn’t mean offering blind loyalty and that they should push back when necessary.

“Before a fan, I am a woman. I don’t support this,” a user commented on a post by Usher at the same concert.

“Through all of their career, BTS has been recognized for taking political and social [stands] when things are not right,” said another ARMY. “This is not right.”

RM Loses Role Model Status

A week after, backlash heated up even further as a volunteer-led global nonprofit organization committed to ending violence against women indefinitely stripped BTS’ leader RM of his male role model status.

“Effective today, we are indefinitely suspending RM from our list of male role models,” The Pixel Project said, emphasizing how they waited to hear from RM to no avail. “The Pixel Project had been waiting for him to issue a public statement of acknowledgement regarding the Chris Brown concert before we responded to this controversy. However, it has been a week of silence on RM’s part, and that silence is deafening.”

“We have never expected any male role model, including RM, to be perfect,” the organization added. “Everyone is human after all. But being decent also means being accountable when your choices hurt other people.”

​​In 2024, The Pixel Project included RM in its fifth honor roll of 16 male role models—its own roster that is not an official title or award—helping to stop violence against women. He was cited for his efforts “to address his own internalized misogyny, support women in the arts, and speak out about violence against women in intensely patriarchal” societies.

Up to this point, none of RM, J-Hope, and Big Hit Music has addressed the controversy.