Lea Salonga on unfollowing BTS's RM and J-Hope after Chris Brown backlash: 'I was waking up sad'

Broadway star Lea Salonga has spoken about her decision to unfollow BTS members RM and J-Hope on social media. She clarified that the move was made for her own emotional wellbeing, not as a form of punishment or protest. Salonga addressed this on Threads after a follower asked about her stance on the controversy involving RM, J-Hope, and American singer Chris Brown. She emphasized that her personal choices do not affect others significantly, except perhaps by stirring reactions among fans. "Yes, I did unfollow, but for my own sake. It’s not meant to be punitive to either of them," she said. "I recognized I was waking up sad or upset, or finding myself too affected. This was unhealthy, so I took a step back for my own peace of mind." She denied any intention to punish or protest, stating that her decisions are personal and hers alone. The controversy stems from RM and J-Hope’s appearance at a Chris Brown concert in Toronto, where they posed with Brown backstage. J-Hope later shared clips from the event, including a moment where they sang along to Brown’s track "Look at Me Now." Many BTS fans found the optics problematic, particularly given Brown’s troubled legal history, including his 2009 assault on Rihanna.