The Pixel Project, an international non-profit campaigning to end violence against women, has indefinitely suspended BTS leader RM, whose real name is Kim Nam-joon, from its “Male Role Models” honor roll following criticism over his appearance at a Chris Brown concert.
The controversy emerged after RM and fellow BTS member J-Hope attended Brown’s concert in Toronto and were photographed backstage with the American singer.
Brown has faced a series of allegations and legal cases involving violence, most notably his 2009 felony assault conviction involving singer Rihanna.
In a statement issued on August 19, The Pixel Project said RM had been removed from its “16 Male Role Models Helping to Stop Violence Against Women” list, to which he was added in 2024.
The organisation had previously recognised RM for his efforts to address misogyny, engage with feminist literature and support female artists in South Korea. It said his public association with Brown was inconsistent with the values underpinning that recognition.
The group also raised concerns that backstage photographs and footage from the concert could be perceived as publicly endorsing or normalising Brown before BTS’s large global audience, which includes many young women and girls.
According to The Pixel Project, RM’s failure to publicly address the criticism and concerns expressed by fans during the following week also contributed to its decision to suspend the recognition indefinitely.
The backlash began after J-Hope shared footage from Brown’s Toronto concert on August 12, while a subsequent photograph circulated showing Brown with RM and J-Hope backstage.
The images prompted debate among BTS fans, known collectively as ARMY, across X, Reddit and Weverse. Some fans expressed disappointment, arguing that the appearance conflicted with RM’s reputation for engaging with issues surrounding gender equality, misogyny and women’s rights.