K-pop stars BTS announced the unexpected: they’re taking a break to pursue their solo careers. BRB, tears. Actual tears.

The group took sat together in a televised anniversary dinner and spoke from heart, opening up to fans about the struggles and pressure they felt under their *massive* rise to stardom.

“We’re trying to find our identity and that’s an exhausting and long process,” said Jimin during the televised dinner.

During the anniversary dinner, the K-Pop band members told fans that were “going through a rough patch,” with a majority of the boyband admitting they were exhausted. RM also stated that the K-pop system “doesn’t give you time to mature,” as a person. He also said that he felt trapped, as though he had grown to become a rapping machine.

Via Instagram

When one of the members stated that it was a hiatus on television, BTS’ entertainment company, HYBE, quickly disputed it that with a statement saying ”they are not on hiatus” and will ”remain active in various different formats.”

This is time for the band members to mature on their own, as solo acts, to be able to come back and grow as a group, which I mean, makes sense. We’ve seen this happen to SO many groups, with the Jonas Brothers being a prime example. The singers being brothers was certainly *not* a point to miss, but that didn’t exempt them from reality.

Bands are known to eventually take a break, allowing each member to grow individually before reuniting. (Hello? Still waiting for the 1D reunion.) But, we all thought BTS was immune to that phenomenon.

Fans took to social media to share their disappointment and sadness, because what’s the point of social media if not to cry and complain?

Via Instagram

Take a look at fans’ reactions to the news of BTS going on a break…