BTS RM and J-Hope invite backlash for meeting Chris Brown; here’s why

BTS RM and J-Hope meet Chris Brown and Usher. Pics via Instagram

BTS stars Kim Namjoon (RM) and Jung Hoseok (J-Hope) are facing severe backlash from fans after they were recently seen at Usher and Chris Brown's concert in Toronto. The BTS members attended The R&B Tour, which is Usher and Chris Brown's joint 2026 stadium tour.

BTS RM and J-Hope attend Chris Brown concert

After the concert, J-Hope took to Instagram to share moments from the show. Similarly, photos of RM and J-Hope meeting Usher and Chris Brown backstage also went viral. However, the visuals of the crossover did not sit too well with users on the internet, especially the BTS ARMY. Many called out RM and J-Hope for attending the concert.

The backlash stemmed from Usher's connection to Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Chris Brown's history of violence against women. For the unversed, Usher has a longstanding professional and personal connection with Combs. In July 2025, Combs was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking charges and was subsequently sentenced to 50 months in prison. Following his conviction, during a March 2026 interview with Forbes, Usher was asked about his former mentor, to which he said he had "nothing negative to say" since his personal experience was different from what the public had seen. He even praised Combs' role in hip-hop and Black entrepreneurship, described him as a mentor, saying, "that's why I see him as a legacy. I put respect on his name."

On the other hand, Chris Brown has faced serious controversies throughout his career, including his 2009 case wherein he was found guilty of assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna. He pleaded guilty to one felony count of assault and was sentenced to five years of probation and community labour.

Later in 2014, Brown pleaded guilty to a separate assault charge concerning a man outside a Washington hotel. Most recently, in July 2026, the singer pleaded guilty in the UK to affray linked to a 2023 nightclub incident involving music producer Abraham Diaw.

BTS fans react

Upset over the crossover, many fans expressed their anger and disappointment with RM and J-Hope on social media. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "Of course they're friends with that woman beater & assaulter. Horrid men ew." Meanwhile, others questioned why BTS members, who have often spread messages around self-worth and empowerment, would want to publicly associate themselves with Brown and Usher.

One of the BTS fanpages on Instagram also shared a post that read, "Namjoon bro what was the point of reading Feminist Literature & Hoseok what was the point of making songs for empowering women when y'all are going to do is vibe in a concert of a known woman beater and absuer and a Diddy supporter.. Not to mention Zionists."