For the Record

Earlier this month, Billboard and many other publications were attacked online by BTS fans for reporting in a way that upset them that the group was taking a “hiatus.” “Billboard you really love making articles with such a non consistent [sic] details,” wrote one reader on Facebook. “BTS is not even on break as clarified by HYBE and BTS members.” Another comment: “Oh can you shut up about ‘hiatus’ stuff?” Some of this bile may have been inspired by BTS rapper RM, who wrote the day after the group said it was taking a break that “it feels bitter” to see “provocative keywords” like “hiatus.” His implication is that the word was used to boost online traffic. The word “hiatus” came from subtitles written in English on a video message that BTS itself released on June 14. Soon after the video ra...