Korean pop group BTS is under fire from some of their supporters following a meetup with controversial American artist Chris Brown and attendance at his Toronto concert on Wednesday. J-Hope (Jung Ho-seok) and RM (Kim Nam-joon) were present at the second show Brown co-headlined with Usher at Rogers Stadium where BTS is also set to perform on August 22 and 23.
A photo shared on Brown’s Instagram displayed J-Hope and RM alongside the singer, with additional videos showing them enjoying the performance. Brown has a criminal background with various assault charges, including a felony assault conviction in 2009 for attacking his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. He also faced legal issues leading to jail time in 2014 and recently pleaded guilty to assaulting a producer at a London nightclub.
The online response among BTS’s ARMY (fans of the band) has been split, with some expressing disappointment in the members for associating with Brown. However, others defended J-Hope and RM, suggesting they might have attended the show primarily to see Usher rather than endorsing Brown’s behavior. The debate highlights differing opinions within the fan community regarding the incident.
Despite the reactions, BTS representatives have not yet provided a response to the situation.