This seems like an obvious one, but I’m sure there will be millions of tweens who need a hug today all the same. A while back, One Direction announced that they would be going on a hiatus following the end of their promotional tour for their latest album. They said their hiatus would begin in March, but they would totally come back together after taking a break from one another. But… Us Weekly says that the 1D guys have not renewed their contract, and that the hiatus is a real breakup.
Separate directions: Five months after announcing they would begin an extended hiatus in March, One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Harry Styles will split, a source close to the British boy band reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly.
This comes after Horan, 22, denied rumors of a split in November. “We’re not breaking up,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “We’re literally taking time out to see our friends and see our family and reflect on what we’ve done over the last few years.”
The foursome — Zayn Malik exited the group in March 2015 — decided “not to renew their recording contract” after wrapping their tour in October, says the close source. “The 1D thing just ran its course. They’ll remain friends, but they are exhausted and want solo careers.”
Not necessarily in front of a mic, though. “Liam is really interested in songwriting and production,” says a second insider. And Styles, 21, is looking toward the big screen. Adds the first source, “Harry is launching a career in acting and singing.” As for Tomlinson, 24, he’s going to be busy as a first-time dad. As Us Weekly confirmed in July, the pop star is expecting a baby with stylist friend Briana Jungwirth.
The boy band, who got their start on U.K.’s The X Factor in 2010, will still release a video for another song on their Made in the A.M. album.
Do you think this is for real? I do. As in, I think they really want to split up and go their separate ways… right at this moment. I bet Simon Cowell is sh-tting gold bricks right now, and this is far from over. Maybe Cowell will talk them into reuniting after they’ve gotten a long holiday. Maybe the guys will realize that they will be so much more successful if they stick together. I don’t know. It’s not that I think their individual careers will be over if they split, I just don’t think the opportunities are going to be as plentiful as they seem to think. Of course, I’ve always thought that Harry would be the breakout, the Justin Timberlake of 1D.
PS… Gossip Cop says they’re not splitting, for what it’s worth.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I think they’ll say that now, but in a couple years come back together when their solo careers ares successful. I like them, but I don’t see any of them really shining solo. Harry has talent and charm, but I don’t see a JT career from him. I see a lot of dating stories and him living off of his personal life.
Ha ha I agree. In five years when all their solo projects fail, they’ll reunite but the interest will be gone. Just like with the spice girls. They all tried it solo and though some had some success in music, none were able to match the original group.
God, I’m old. this reminds me of the rough time I had when Duran Duran broke up. SO MUCH FEELS!!!!!!!!!!!! yikes, that Styles boy looks like Andy Taylor.Flashback.
Does anyone under twenty years old care if they break up? It isn’t like in the 70’s when the Beatles broke up. Time stood still for a minute. It seems like this band is more about who they’re dating than their music. Maybe at 37, I’m getting too old to comment on this generation’s heart throbs. David Bowie is probably having himself a good chuckle, now he was a musician and a legend whose music will live on forever 🙁
I care and I’m 25 🙁
Sorry Dani, my daughter is 14 and will be upset too. @FLORC: God you’re funny!
This one made me laugh, actually. I am sorry. *hides*
I have been alive for a few of my favorite bands breaking up.
STP, RATM, and a few lesser known ones, but still big to me.
I needed a day at most and life continued.
1Direction wasn’t groundbreaking. Just more manufactured boys. They will soon be replaced as they were once the replacements. The cycle continues.
I know a few tweens and they don’t care.
And for me? I am SHOCKED! *pouty face*
I’m 50 and I don’t care. I only know Harry Styles because he dated Taylor. And yes, I’m 50 and i listen to Taylor and other younguns too. 1D just kind of sux imo.
Older than you and I LOVE 1D music! From the sheer joy of it to the most poignant music around. I care very much and believe this rumor was dropped by good old Simon trying to stir up the fans and wear them down with crap. He’s lost 1D and the money they generate and whoa is he pissed!! Right now behind the scenes is the wildest soap opera going! Guys will win it though and they will return unless some unforeseeable event happens.
They’re probably trying to renegotiate a better contract for even more money. The only one out of them that could go solo is Harry. The other ones need to stay in the group. I think they are right on schedule for the ending of the band though as boy bands usually have a short shelf life. On to the next…
My daughter is 16 and was a huge 1D fan. Then she moved on to 5 Seconds of Summer. Then on to other less famous groups. I’ll be interested if she has any reaction to this.
My little cousin was also a huge fan of 1D, then moved on to 5 seconds of summer ( but said they are huge douchebags) so she moved on from them too. I wonder if she’ll have a reaction.
My teenager moved on to 5 Seconds of Summer too.
Oops duplicate comment.
This is how most bands go eventually – kaput. They will all go down the Zayn route and try for solo careers, frankly NONE of them (inc. Zayn) have the talent for any sort of lasting musical career.
Harry could have an acting career – never seen him act but he has that look that could work on screen.
Yeah, I think Harry could be more like Mark Whalberg rather than Timberlake.
When Take That broke up, did people know Robbie Williams was going to be this huge superstar, or did they think it will be Gary Barlow? I’m too young to remember.
Everyone thought it would be Gary that had a huge career ahead. But Robbie had Angels and that blew everyone away. Plus he is an amazing entertainer. I’m not fond of him, but he can rock a crowd.
Now Gary is very successful, isn’t he? With and without Take That.
Yeah, but I know two people who’ve heard of Gary. Everyone knows who Robbie is.
Robbie is one of the rare pop stars I like. And he is a great entertainer.
Harry is possibly one of the worst actors on the planet…and I say that with great appreciation of him.
A couple of years back, the band did a live tv special called one direction day, and harry was really good and charismatic as a tv presenter. Wouldn’t be surprised if he went down that road.
Well , duh.
I believe gossip cop. One direction will break up when they can’t make anymore money for Simon Cowell.
Nope dumping Cowell and that’s why you will be hearing more evil and divisive things about 1D for awhile.
Their rep has come out and said they are not splitting up.
Personally, I think it all depends on the success they’ll find as solo artists, though.
I think the most likely to succeed out of all of them (including Zayn) will be Harry.
If I’m not mistaken, Louis and Liam actually write the majority of their songs. I could see either of those two finding success as songwriters and/or producers as opposed to performers
“Of course, I’ve always thought that Harry would be the breakout, the Justin Timberlake of 1D.”
This isn’t a good comparison. Timberlake was always obviously talented. Harry is not the best singer or dancer, even in 1D where the bar isn’t set that high. Hes not even their main songwriter ( louis and liam write most of the songs as far as i know) Harry is simply the most famous member.
None of them are dancers at all! While Harry doesn’t write as many for 1D as Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne he does write extremely moving lyrics and others perform them, you just are not hearing about them. Take the time to hear Ariana Grande’s version of “Just a Little Bit of My Heart” or go on youtube and hear Harry’s demo of “Don’t Let Me Go” I think you will be impressed. Also Harry is one of the nicest people in the world and in fact others who work with 1D are always very complimentary about how nice and down to earth they are. Okay I just fan-girled out there a bit.
This was already debunked by the band’s spokesperson…
They’re on hiatus between contracts and they’ve said repeatedly they’ll be back once they’re under new management (presumably once their non-compete allows them to). Time will tell.
I have also read that their management is really reaally reaaaaally controling of what they could do and say, I bet if they hadn’t been as pushy they could have milked 1D longer. Poor dudes.
lol Anytime someone is predicted to go solo from their group, automatically people are negative and say they will fail. I remember when Justin went solo, he was predicted to fail by the Nsync fandom. People wondered why Beyonce would come out with an album when Ashanti was around. It’s a different day and time now because of social media, which has completely change the game, so who knows what the future holds?
Can’t blame them. Their “fans” are completely insane. These dudes can’t even drop a deuce without their fans complaining about the faces they make while doing it. Its ridiculous.
Words hurt. That’s ill-informed to say since each of the men in 1D consistently thanks their fans and appreciates them and acknowledges that they would be no where without their support. 1D is no less than stunned how passionate and supportive the fans are. Louis will get in a twitter fight over anyone abusing the fans and when paps wanted to have the girls move so they could get a shot of Niall, he lit into them telling them that the paps didn’t pay his bills the fans did. He went on twitter the next day to underline his appreciation of the fans.
It is widely known that the 1D fandom has done more to support 1D than most fans do. They are not just fans they organize! The fans are very passionate and protective ( so is the band about their fans!) but they also took it upon themselves to promote No Control to be played on air on their own as the management wasn’t doing it and fans wanted to support Louis Tomlinson who wrote it and was being flailed by his own management and press. Each year the fans, that you are calling insane, raise money to support a charity in the name of each performer. The goal is to raise $1,000 for each year old the performer is. Louis just turned 24 and they were able to raise $28,000. Harry will be 22 Feb.1 and last I read the fans have already got $19,000 They do this each year for each performer. Also they have formed groups to help support the LGBT people who are fans and many other things throughout the year.
All of this is done while they are ridiculed in the press (and often by 1D management, who are fools) and by people like yourself who read the press without digging deeper. For 5 years people have made fun of 1D fans because they are largely young girl/women fans. Somehow it is acceptable to put on war paint and drink yourself insane and make a fool of yourself to support a football game because it’s a “male” thing to do. Why making girls feel bad because they get excited and emotional about a boy band that makes them feel so good is acceptable I do not know.
I smell a jealous leak from Mr. Cowell. It’s known that their management contract was up, hence their ability to take a long break. I’m betting they just decided they didn’t want to resign with Simon or Syco and are leaving their options open. It’s been rumored they’ve met extensively with other music management firms, including Irving Azoff’s here in the US. Why take time to do so if you’re breaking up?
They’re at the peak of popularity and have great ability to crossover to a more ‘adult’ sound as their most recent CD showed. Bieber is doing it – who’d have thunk? – and the member of 1D are savvier than he is imo. They have the opportunity to make many more millions of $$ as a unit over the coming years, -and- keep most of it for themselves rather than share it with greedy managers. While also making their own tour schedules, controlling their own image and sound and laying a stronger foundation for future solo effots…it’s a win-win all around.
The streets are littered with the corpses of former boy banders who tried solo fame and failed; they’re aware of this. I think they will reunite and come back surprisingly strong.
If this is true then I have to say, good for them. Despite all the money they get for it, I wouldn’t like that lifestyle. Their fans follow their every step and literally have day-long debates about the shoes they are wearing. And well, they are their fans, so if they dare ask them to tone it down a notch they’d be called ungrateful twats. And just reading the schedules they have exhausts me.
I like 1D tbh. Zayn always gave me douchey vibes, but these 4 are alright. I’ve always been impressed by how nice and well-behaved they act despite their youth and crazy schedules.
Thank God!