Many think the timing wasn’t a coincidence.
Koreaboo
21 minutes ago
BTS’s recent appearance with American singer-songwriter Chappell Roan is drawing major scrutiny for more than one reason.
| @bts_bighit/X
RM updated his Instagram Story with the photo of himself, J-Hope, V, and Roan backstage at the group’s WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN LOS ANGELES concert earlier this week. While some fans were excited for the crossover, many were quick to slam the artists.
| @rkive/Instagram
In particular, some fans accused the BTS members of using Chappell Roan, whose image is built around feminism and female empowerment, to detract from their recent controversy. Back on August 13, RM and J-Hope became the subject of serious criticism after the pair attended American singer Chris Brown’s concert in Canada, where they also posed for a photo with him.
Brown has been a highly controversial figure since he pleaded guilty to felony assault against his then-girlfriend, Rihanna, in 2009.
https://t.co/EcZkIjzpLZ pic.twitter.com/ImJktVJRXn
— lu & that 🎀 (@tlucysaurus) September 5, 2026
They are trying to make things even with the Chris Brown photo 😭 https://t.co/43eVvXNYJQ
— Hate Crave (@HateCrave) September 5, 2026
At the same time, many others hit back at Roan herself for appearing in the photo, pointing out that she had performed at Olivia Rodrigo‘s Daisy Chain Fields (a newly launched, women-led music festival supporting women’s rights) just days before the photo was taken.
she deleted every app off her phone clearly 😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/pB6wxFX2XO
— 🐣 val (@chuujisoolia) September 5, 2026
Performing at a festival that stands for women’s rights, then taking a photo with misogynistic people right afterwards?
Choppel our new performative Queen!!
— Sel (@selsupernatural) September 5, 2026
Other celebrities pictured at BTS’s North American tour leg so far include American rapper Nas and soccer player Son Heung Min.
BTS