Korean pop sensation BTS is under fire from a section of their fans following their appearance alongside controversial American artist Chris Brown and attendance at his Toronto concert on Wednesday. J-Hope (Jung Ho-seok) and RM (Kim Nam-joon) were spotted at Brown’s show at Rogers Stadium, where he performed alongside Usher.
BTS is set to take the stage at the same venue on August 22 and 23. In a picture shared on Brown’s Instagram, J-Hope and RM can be seen posing with the singer, and videos circulating on social media show them enjoying the concert.
Chris Brown has a history of legal issues, starting in 2009 with a felony assault charge against singer Rihanna, followed by subsequent assault charges and a jail term in 2014. Recently, he admitted guilt to an assault charge in London last month for an incident at a nightclub.
Fans of BTS, known as ARMY, have had mixed reactions online to the photos and videos. Some expressed disappointment in the duo for associating with Brown, while others defended their actions, suggesting they may have been at the concert primarily to see Usher.
Critics emphasized the seriousness of Brown’s past actions but urged against attacking J-Hope and RM’s characters without understanding their motivations or beliefs. BTS representatives have not responded to requests for comments regarding the incident.