Boy band One Direction have are going to take a break in 2016 after the release of their fifth studio album.
The group announced that they plan to take some time off from the band, with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan expected to follow Zayn Malik and launch solo careers, and Liam Payne is believed to want to focus on his song writing and DJing.
Styles is considered the superstar of the band, and is reported to have received offers for movie roles in Hollywood alongside a possible job offer to become a judge on the X Factor.
The break was reported to have been planned before fifth member Zayn Malik left the band in March, but the members and their management denied the rumours when they first began circulating in June.
There will be no tour to support the launch the band’s fifth album, with their last concert before Christmas organised to be at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena on 31 October. The four band members will then have a final month of live dates in February.
Fans reacted badly to the news on social media.
I'M CRYING RIGHT NOW! I DONT WANT ONE DIRECTION TO SPLIT UP NOT NOW PLEASE! MY LIFE WONT BE NOTHING WITHOUT THEM I LOVE THEM SOOOO MUCH <3
— GeorgiaK_1DForever (@gkabc12345) August 24, 2015
I don't think I'm ready to accept the fact that one direction are going to be over
— jayna (@_horanfeels) August 23, 2015
one direction isn’t allowed to break up until im dead
— inês (@ashdonuts) August 23, 2015
Have One Direction actually split up or? Cause im about to cry ?
— Tarkan Basara (@_tarkanbasara) August 23, 2015
SOMEONE RELEASE A GOD DAMN OFFICIAL STATEMENT MY HEART CANT TAKE THESE CONSTANT RUMOURS ARE ONE DIRECTION SPLITTING OR ARENT THEY !?
— #3YearsOfUnionJ⚓️☀️ (@cuthbertseyes_) August 23, 2015
