RM and J-hope continued to raise eyebrows among fans with their latest “embarrassing” move.
The two BTS stars attended Usher and Chris Brown’s August 12 show in Toronto and their enthusiastic interactions are now going viral.
In a video circulating online, j-hope warmly greeted the R&B star backstage, calling him “King” and saying it was an honour to meet him.
RM also praised the performance, with the BTS leader excitedly singling out Usher’s Climax as a standout moment.
“It was an honour,” RM told Usher, while j-hope added, “It’s a great show.” Usher repeatedly thanked the pair during the exchange.
The seemingly celebratory encounter, however, did not sit well with a section of BTS ARMY.
Social media users questioned the decision to publicly praise Usher after the concert, particularly because the event also featured Chris Brown, whose history of violence and legal troubles has remained a major point of controversy.
One fan pointed out, “wdym it’s an honor…u guys are embarrassing yourselves and us rn.
Another voiced their frustration, “Omfg they’re pissing me off so bad.”
A third expressed, “Idk I’m disappointed!”
While some supporters argues that the K-pop superstars might be unaware of the artists’ background, netizens quickly shot that narrative down.
“Namjoon knows IShowSpeed’s legal name, tell me he wouldn’t know what Chris Brown did,” they responded.
Another social media user wrote, “What I learnt from this is that it doesn’t matter how despicable a man has been toward women, another man will always put him above women’s rights.”
The backlash intensified after photos of RM and j-hope backstage with Brown circulated online. Usher also shared photos featuring the BTS members, further putting their appearance in the spotlight.
Some ARMYs expressed disappointment, arguing that the public display of admiration was difficult to reconcile with BTS’ long-standing messaging around respect and non-violence.
The criticism comes as Brown remains in the headlines over separate legal matters. In July, he pleaded guilty in the UK to affray over a 2023 London nightclub attack involving music producer Abraham Diaw. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26.
For now, it is the BTS members’ backstage exchange with Usher and the warmth with which they praised his performance that has become the latest flashpoint among ARMY, with fans debating where admiration for an artist ends and accountability for their associations begins.
2026-08-14 14:30:00
