As BTS’ “Arirang” world tour continues to sweep across North αмєяι¢α, the South кσяєαn boy group is not only drawing enthusiastic crowds but also inspiring local governments to roll out the red carpet with a series of notable official tributes.

Toronto City Council recently approved a plan to temporarily rename a stretch of Yonge Street in the city’s North York district as “BTS Boulevard” from August 21 to September 23, ahead of the group’s two concerts there on August 22 and 23. The council also plans to ask the city to proclaim the concert dates “BTS Weekend.”

Meanwhile, after meeting fans at M&T Bank Stadium last weekend, BTS will head to AT&T Stadium in Arlington on August 15 and 16. The stadium is home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and has a standard capacity of more than 80,000. While the atmosphere surrounding the superstars’ arrival is filled with excitement and anticipation, a rather unpleasant piece of news has been circulating within the fan community, one that directly involves RM and j-hope.

According to information circulating online, a group of people believed to be solo fans or solo stans of other members, or accounts suspected of being antis posing as ARMY, have proposed carrying out a “black ocean” targeting RM and j-hope at the Arlington concert. They have banded together and called on others who share their views to turn off their lightsticks during the two members’ performances as a way of expressing their opposition and disappointment toward them. Not only that, they also intend to refrain from chanting the two rappers’ names during the group’s songs or cheering for them during their interactions with fans.

The move is believed to stem from the controversy surrounding RM and j-hope attending Usher and Chris Brown’s The R&B Tour at Rogers Stadium in Toronto. The two were seen enjoying the concert, dancing along to the music and sharing moments from the show. Chris Brown later posted a photo of himself with RM and j-hope backstage on social media.

Chris Brown has long been a highly controversial artist, with a history involving νισℓєи¢є, ѕєχual αѕѕault allegations and other offenses, most notably the widely publicized 2009 incident involving Rihanna. As a result, some fans, particularly those who are highly sensitive to issues surrounding νισℓєи¢є against women, felt that the two BTS members’ appearance at the concert and interaction with the singer was difficult to accept.

Over the past several days, this group of fans has repeatedly expressed their disappointment and strongly criticized the two members, with some even declaring that they were leaving the fandom. However, many could hardly have expected them to go a step further and come up with the idea of staging a “black ocean” against RM and j-hope right at the group’s Arlington concert.

The idea immediately drew fierce backlash from other fans. The majority of ARMYs called it an excessive and cruel act that would directly revive the painful memories BTS experienced when rival fandoms used the same tactic against the group in the past. Rather than “protecting their values,” as this group of fans claims, many argued that the move is simply a toxic manifestation of an unhealthy parasocial relationship. To protect BTS, the fan community quickly called on others to block negative accounts, focus on streaming the group’s music and strengthen their unity ahead of the group’s performances.

On social media, fans flooded the platforms with fierce comments opposing the idea, defending RM and j-hope, and sharing their own opinions, including:

- To everyone attending, please make sure your voices are SUPER LOUD for OT7, as always!

- Instead of planning a black ocean for bts why don't you all plan a way to ruin that abuser's entire career? I thought we're the biggest fandom in the world, why are you afraid to do it? Is it because standing up against bts is easier than an abuser?

- I’ve нιт my block limit but I’m still blocking & unfollowing every single tox!c so called 'army' supporting the boycott & black ocean project.. Get out of my space. I don’t want you here..

- And Namjoon will definitely see this. Y'all are opening a door for haters and antis btw. Suggesting black ocean over an ai collab is diabolical.

- BTS will always be on the top and loved by everyone. Those tox!c people will do nothing as all they can do is write a comment or post and BTS will continue in breaking records and gaining more love

- For all armys who will go to concerts If you see someone writing bad things, plese take a video their face, and call security, don't allow them to disrespect members

- Its same like αмєяι¢αns hating on 875 and calling them zionist or to speak up for Palestine while they has trump as president . Their own president committing it all but it was easier to abuse BTS than trump . Western people have this superiority of education/hating Asians

- They always вυℓℓу the weak right. CB obv doesnt give two hoots abt his behavior which is why he has never been blacklisted in the industry, has a sold out tour with the majority attending are women themselves. I’ll be very disappointed if BTS ever apologise for this.

- Tell them to give us their tickets too please, real armys are dreaming of seeing bts live

- Y'all keep proving that stepping up against an abuser will never happen... Why not keep dragging cb to the point his career is ruined? Y'all only have the guts to constantly say sнιт abt bts and only twt "F u cb" twice don't come at me with ur selective feminism