He was once honored by the same organization.
Koreaboo
9 minutes ago
The backlash against BTS, particularly its leader, RM, appears to be intensifying after the idol was seen attending a Chris Brown concert and posing with him for a social media post afterward.
J-Hope and RM with Chris Brown | @chrisbrownofficial/Instagram
The latest pushback regarding the issue has come from an organization advocating to stop violence against women, called The Pixel Project. In 2024, they released an “honor roll” of 16 male role models helping to stop violence against women. RM was one of those names. However, on August 19, KST, the website showed that his entry had been “indefinitely suspended.”
The Pixel Project then issued a lengthy statement confirming that RM’s association with Chris Brown was the reason for this recent development. They also shared that the possibility of his being featured on a future list of positive role models would be under review.
In 2024, we included Kim Nam-Joon – better known as RM, the leader of BTS, the biggest boy band in the world – in our 5th honour roll of 16 male role models helping to stop violence against women. We did so in good faith after conducting due diligence which showed that he had taken steps over the years to address his own internalised misogyny, support women in the arts, and speak out about violence against women in intensely patriarchal South Korea. We also cited him as a case study in our Father’s Day 2025 op-ed on the importance of imperfect male role models because, up until then, he had demonstrated the ability to conscientiously work on doing better when it comes to unlearning misogyny, sexism, and toxic masculinity.
Effective today, we are indefinitely suspending RM from our list of male role models.
We will also be reviewing and revising our Father’s Day 2025 op-ed that featured RM as a case study of a good but imperfect male role model.
— The Pixel Project
The organization explained why it believed public accountability was necessary in this case, citing BTS’s significant influence.
Intent does not always align with impact. Even if RM (and J-Hope) did not intend for that picture to be a public endorsement of an abuser or violence against women, their level of fame means that they have automatically platformed Brown in front of their millions of fans and the general public. In doing so, they have contributed to perpetuating the system that normalises violent men facing minimal consequences for gender-based violence. This is despite having a fandom that is at least 90% women and girls.
— The Pixel Project
The statement called out the BTS member not only fpublicly or associating with Chris Brcly, but also for his continued silence on the issue.
The Pixel Project had been waiting for RM to issue a public statement or acknowledgement regarding the Chris Brown concert before we responded to this controversy. However, it has been a week of silence on RM’s part and that silence is deafening.
BTS is currently the biggest boy band in the world; their every action has a huge impact and influence on pop culture and the global audience. Whether they like it or not, they are public role models by default, and with this great power comes great responsibility.
We have never expected any male role model (including RM) to be perfect. Everyone is human after all. But being a decent human being also means being accountable when your choices hurt other people.
— The Pixel Project
The statement concluded by urging both RM and J-Hope to take some kind of accountability, if not by apologizing for their mistake, then by supporting organizations helping victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Meanwhile, BTS is also facing criticism from fans for their latest endorsement deal:
BTS’s New Advert Triggers Huge Criticism