BTS' RM and J-Hope Face 'Male Privilege' Backlash After Chris Brown Photo: 'Why Are They Not Cancelled Yet?'

BTS members RM and J-Hope are facing backlash after attending Chris Brown and Usher's concert in Toronto and later posing for photos with Brown backstage. The appearance has upset some fans, with one social media user asking, 'Why are they not cancelled yet?' and saying, 'Men privilege is real'.

The controversy comes just weeks after Brown pleaded guilty to affray over a 2023 nightclub incident in London. His guilty plea has put the singer under fresh public scrutiny, making RM and J-Hope's decision to attend his show a sensitive issue for some BTS fans.

RM and J-Hope Attend Toronto Concert

RM and J-Hope attended the Toronto stop of Chris Brown and Usher's R&B Tour on August 12. The show took place at Rogers Stadium, where BTS is also set to perform its own concerts later this month.

J-Hope shared clips from the concert on social media, showing moments from the performances and the two BTS stars enjoying the show. Billboard reported that the members were seen dancing and singing along during Brown's performance of 'Look At Me Now'.

The night did not end with the concert, as RM and J-Hope later met Brown backstage. Brown shared a photo of himself standing between the two BTS members, while Usher also posted photos with the K-pop stars.

Fans Question the Chris Brown Photo

The backstage picture quickly spread across social media and became the main focus of the backlash. Some fans said they could understand attending a large concert but felt that the photo with Brown made the situation harder to defend.

One X user reacted to the image by writing, 'I'm sorry but why are they not cancelled yet? Men privilege is real.' The post, shown in the social media screenshot circulating online, reflects the anger from fans who believe male celebrities are sometimes treated differently when they face serious controversy.

Other reactions have also questioned why RM and J-Hope would publicly celebrate the meeting at a time when Brown is still facing criticism over his legal history. The response has created a wider debate among BTS fans about whether artists should be judged separately from the people they choose to support or meet.

Why Chris Brown Is Facing Fresh Scrutiny

Brown pleaded guilty to one count of affray in July in connection with a 2023 fight at a London nightclub. According to Reuters, more serious charges, including charges connected to assault and grievous bodily harm, were dropped after the guilty plea.

The case involved music producer Abraham Diaw, who was attacked at the Tape nightclub in London. Prosecutors said Brown struck Diaw with a bottle during the incident, while Brown admitted to affray, which covers the use or threat of unlawful violence.

Brown was arrested in the UK in 2025 and later released on bail. He is due to be sentenced on 26 October, with the affray charge carrying a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment.

Brown's Past Adds to the Backlash

The latest criticism also comes against the wider background of Brown's long history of legal and public controversy. He pleaded guilty in 2009 to assaulting Rihanna and received probation, community labour and domestic violence counselling.

That history has made Brown a deeply debated figure in the music industry, even as he has continued to release music and perform around the world. His recent guilty plea in the London case has brought renewed attention to those past events.

For some fans, that history makes RM and J-Hope's decision especially hard to accept. The issue is not only that they attended a show featuring Brown, but that they were later photographed with him and appeared to be enjoying the night.

BTS Fans Remain Divided

Not everyone has reacted in the same way, however, and the online response remains divided. Some fans have criticised the two members, while others have argued that attending a concert or taking a backstage photo does not automatically show support for everything Brown has done.

The debate has also raised questions about the pressure placed on major stars when their personal choices become public. RM and J-Hope have not provided a public explanation for their concert appearance or the photos, leaving fans to debate the meaning of the meeting themselves.

The timing has made the story even more noticeable because BTS is preparing for its own Toronto shows. The group is scheduled to perform at Rogers Stadium on 22 and 23 August, only days after RM and J-Hope attended Brown and Usher's show at the same venue.

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