Korean pop group BTS is receiving criticism from certain fans following their appearance alongside controversial American singer Chris Brown at his Toronto concert on Wednesday. J-Hope (Jung Ho-seok) and RM (Kim Nam-joon) were spotted at Brown’s show, which was co-headlined with Usher at Rogers Stadium. BTS is set to perform at the same venue on August 22 and 23.
Pictures shared on Brown’s Instagram account show J-Hope and RM posing with the singer, with additional videos capturing them enjoying the performance. Brown has a troubled past, with legal issues dating back to 2009 when he pleaded guilty to assaulting his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna. Subsequent assault charges led to his incarceration in 2014. Recently, Brown admitted guilt to an assault charge involving a bottle attack on a producer in a London nightclub.
The online reactions from BTS’s ARMY fans have been mixed, with some expressing disappointment in the members for associating with Brown. Conversely, others defended J-Hope and RM, suggesting they may have attended the show to see Usher without full knowledge of Brown’s history. The debate has sparked discussions on social media platforms like Reddit, Twitter, and Facebook.
While some fans have distanced themselves from BTS over this incident, others have emphasized the importance of not making assumptions about the members’ intentions or morals without full understanding of the situation. As of now, representatives for BTS have not provided any comments on the matter.