BTS' RM and j-hope are facing backlash from fans after attending Chris Brown and Usher's The R&B Tour on 12 August in Toronto, sharing videos from the concert, and later appearing in backstage photos with Brown.
The two BTS members were at Rogers Stadium for the second of Brown and Usher's two Toronto shows. While their attendance quickly caught fans' attention, much of the criticism that followed centred on their visible support for the concert and subsequent interaction with Brown.
j-hope shared several moments from the night through his personal Instagram account, including footage of Usher performing 'Yeah!' and Brown onstage. He also posted a selfie video of himself and RM dancing along to Brown's 'Look At Me Now'.
Brown later shared a photograph of himself posing backstage with RM and j-hope. Usher also posted images of the three together, including shots of them laughing, shaking hands, and walking backstage.
The posts have since fuelled criticism across parts of the BTS fandom, with fans questioning RM and j-hope's decision to publicly associate themselves with Brown given his history of violence and legal controversies.
Omfg it just keeps getting worse. I might be too woke but this is too much pic.twitter.com/rrjTiUyb94
— mari - saw bts!!! (@urfavvcrazygirl) August 13, 2026
Fans criticise RM and j-hope over public association with Brown
Much of the backlash has focused not simply on RM and j-hope being present at the concert, but on the videos and photographs that followed.
Fans on a BTS-focused subreddit criticised the pair's judgement, with one describing the appearance as "thoughtless male privilege behaviour". Another said that "their judgment is not always the best". Other fans voiced their disappointment on X.
Other fans questioned why members of a group with a predominantly female fanbase would attend Brown's concert. Reports cited one post that read: "when u have a female dominated fanbase I think the least u can do is to not attend a famously known abuser's concert man idk".
Another fan connected the controversy to other recent discussions surrounding BTS, writing: "AI ads and chris brown support… are they trying to remind us that they're men and we should be disappointed in them or what".
The latter referred to separate criticism surrounding BTS' collaboration with Google Gemini, which had led some fans to use the hashtag #ARMYsAgainstAI.
Chris Brown's history is central to the backlash
The criticism surrounding RM and j-hope's appearance comes against the backdrop of Brown's long and widely documented legal history.
In 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault against his then-girlfriend Rihanna. He later served time in jail in 2014 for violating his probation. Brown has subsequently faced multiple allegations of sexual assault and violent behaviour in separate incidents. More recently, Brown pleaded guilty on 24 July to affray in connection with a 2023 altercation outside a London nightclub. His sentencing is scheduled for October.
Brown's presence in Toronto itself had also prompted questions because he had previously been denied entry to Canada. In February 2015, he cancelled concerts in Toronto and Montreal after being turned away at the Canadian border. His representative said at the time that Brown had been denied entry because of "immigration issues".
Speaking to The Toronto Star, immigration lawyers explained that people who may be inadmissible to Canada because of a criminal record can apply for temporary permission to enter the country.
Toronto immigration lawyer Evan Green said authorities may assess the risks of admitting an individual against the reasons for their visit. Montreal-based immigration lawyer Marisa Feil added that there is no separate immigration exemption for celebrities, although major performers can potentially demonstrate a significant reason for temporary entry because of the economic commitments tied to large-scale concerts.
Brown and Usher's Toronto shows were already courting controversy
RM and j-hope's appearance was not the only element of The R&B Tour attracting attention.
One of the tour's recurring segments sees Brown and Usher bring fans onstage during 'Can U Handle It?' for a sexually charged serenade.
At an earlier Nashville show, footage circulated of a fan appearing uncomfortable as Usher performed the routine. According to reports, the singer noticed her reaction and motioned for her to be taken offstage.
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The segment generated further discussion during the first Toronto show after video circulated of Brown performing an explicit routine with a woman brought onstage.
That wider controversy has added another layer to the discussion surrounding RM and j-hope's presence at the concert, particularly as fans continued debating the pair's decision to post footage from the night and meet Brown backstage.
The appearance comes days before BTS' own Rogers Stadium shows
The timing has also drawn attention because BTS are set to perform at the same Toronto venue shortly afterwards. The group are scheduled to bring their ARIRANG world tour to Rogers Stadium for 22 and 23 August, as part of their ongoing North American run.
Neither RM nor j-hope has publicly addressed the backlash surrounding their attendance, social media posts, or backstage meeting with Brown at the time of writing.
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