One Direction’s split broke the hearts of their loyal fan base when they went their separate ways, announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2016, months after Zayn Malik announced he was leaving the band.
The wildly successful boyband, made up of Liam Payne, Harry Styles, 30, Niall Horan, 31, Zayn , 31, and Louis Tomlinson , 32, decided enough was enough and called time on their union.
Since the split, the five members spoke of the troubles that forced the band apart, including a physical altercation after tensions reached boiling point in the studio and social media swipes following the break-up.
After first forming on X Factor in 2010, like any other friendship group, they have had their fair share of ups and downs – but they more recently sparked reunion hopes after Liam attended Niall’s tour, just days before his tragic death.
Recent displays of support such as attending each other’s concerts and premieres suggested to fans that the band members had each other’s backs more than ever.
One Direction ‘s split broke the hearts of their loyal fan base when they went their separate ways, announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2016, months after Zayn Malik announced he was leaving the band (pictured on the X Factor in 2010)
The wildly successful boyband, made up of Liam Payne , Harry Styles , 30, Niall Horan , 31, Zayn , 31, and Louis Tomlinson , 32, decided enough was enough and called time on their union (pictured in 2014)
Since the split, the five members spoke of the troubles that forced the band apart, including a physical altercation after tensions reached boiling point in the studio and social media swipes following the break-up (seen in 2023)
The solidarity shown in the group delighted fans as they doubled down on hopes that the group would one day reform.
Liam and Harry both attended Niall’s The Show tour in recent months, with Harry showing support on August 7 in Machester, while Liam was present on October 2 n Buenos Aires, just two weeks before his tragic death.
In April 2023, it was reported Liam was ‘desperate’ for One Direction to reunite, soon after he attended Louis’ premiere for his documentary All Of Those Voices.
Speaking to OK!, a source claimed following Liam’s reunion with Louis, he would love to relaunch his career with a One Direction reunion tour.
They said: ‘Liam is desperate to get back on the road with the boys. His solo career hasn’t remained as successful as he hoped it would, and work has become stagnant for him.
‘In contrast, he can see how well Harry (Styles) is doing and he’d love that level of stardom for himself.’
ZAYN QUITS
While things appeared to be on the mend now, fractures between the group were brought to the surface when Zayn Malik sent shockwaves around the world in March 2015 when he sensationally announced he was leaving the boyband in a bid to be a ‘normal’ then 22-year-old.
In a statement at the time, he said: ‘I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight.’
He then signed a solo contract to make music with RCA records, and made a sly dig at the band by claiming it was time to make ‘real music’.
He wrote on Twitter: ‘I guess I never explained why I left, it was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who I really am! #realmusic #RCA !!’
Almost a year after leaving the boyband, Zayn admitted: ‘I think I always wanted to go, from like the first year, really.’
Throwing more shade he added: ‘I never really wanted to be there, like in the band.
Zayn Malik sent shockwaves around the world in March 2015 when he sensationally announced he was leaving the boyband in a bid to be a ‘normal’ then 22-year-old (pictured 2012)
Almost a year after leaving the boyband, Zayn admitted: ‘I think I always wanted to go, from like the first year, really’ (pictured 2013)
‘I just gave it a go because it was there at the time, and when I realised the direction we were going in – mind the pun – with the music, I instantly realised it wasn’t for me, because I realised I couldn’t put any input in.’
In a 2015 interview with GQ, Liam said Zayn didn’t even say goodbye when he left the band.
‘I think with Zayn’s particular exit and the way he chose to go, we haven’t really heard from him since he left.’
‘He didn’t even say goodbye, if I am being honest. It was a really sordid scenario, from our side certainly. A bit strange. It’s difficult.’
The extended hiatus in 2016
Six years after they were formed, with more than 20 million albums sold, the remaining members of One Direction announced they were going on an ‘extended hiatus’
Six years after they were formed, with more than 20 million albums sold, the remaining members of One Direction announced they were going on an ‘extended hiatus,’ just months after Zayn’s shock departure.
At the time, Niall took to his X, then Twitter, account to write: ‘We are not splitting up, but we will be taking a well earned break at some point next year.’
Louis added: ‘Your support is truly indescribable! It’s just a break 🙂 we’re not going anywhere !! Promise Don’t worry.’
However, hopes of the band getting back together fizzled out as the years passed and there was no sign of a reunion.
Marking One Direction’s 10th anniversary in 2020, Liam shared a screenshot of a text message he sent to his father on the day he joined the group, reading: ‘I’m in a boyband.’
‘What a journey… I had no idea what we were in for when I sent this text to my dad years ago at this exact time the band was formed,’ he said.
Physical altercations
In 2022, Liam claimed that he once got into a physical altercation with one of his bandmates during a very heated exchange, but declined to name them
Zayn has since been named as the bandmate who is said to have got into a physical altercation with the singer (pictured in September)
Maya Henry made the revelation in response to a TikTok user who brought up the mystery and claimed ‘You can’t convince me it wasn’t Louis’, with Maya, 23, sharing: ‘he told me it was Zayn’
In 2022, Liam claimed that he once got into a physical altercation with one of his bandmates during a very heated exchange, but declined to name them.
He originally told the story two years ago on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast as he discussed how he was known for ‘not taking s**t’, but that sometimes caused tension.
He shared: ‘There was one moment where there was an argument backstage and one member in particular threw me up a wall.
‘So I said to him, ‘If you don’t remove those hands there’s a high likelihood you’ll never use them again.”
He went on to note his bandmate eventually removed his hands.
Earlier this month, Liam’s ex-fiancée Maya Henry, who dated the star on and off for four years, named the One Direction star who is alleged to have thrown him against a wall as Zayn Malik.
She made the revelation in response to a TikTok user who brought up the mystery and shared ‘You can’t convince me it wasn’t Louis’.
Maya, 23, said she ‘could not hold this information any more’, explaining: ‘I see this all the time, everywhere, I’ve heard this insufferable story so many times…he told me it was Zayn, so…’
LIAM DISSES ZAYN AND THEN APOLOGISES
On the same podcast, when asked for his thoughts about Zayn, Liam branded him a ‘d***’ and discussed a post by Zayn’s then-girlfriend Gigi Hadid about how her partner was ‘respectful’.
The comment has been interpreted by fans as a reference to the allegation that Gigi’s mother Yolanda Hadid made last year, that Zayn had shoved her into a dresser and called her a ‘f***ing Dutch sl*t’.
Liam continued to talk about Zayn, saying there were ‘many reasons why I dislike Zayn’ but that he will ‘always be on his side’ because of Zayn’s alleged tough upbringing.
He said: ‘There’s many reasons why I dislike Zayn and there’s many reasons why I’ll always, always be on his side.
‘If I had had to go through what he went through, through his growth and whatever else. You know are your parents very supportive?
‘My parents are overly supportive to the point where it’s annoying at times and they don’t even mind me saying that. And Zayn had a different upbringing in that sense.’
Although he appeared to claim he had sympathy with Zayn and cared for the ex-One Direction member, he received enormous backlash from fans over his comments.
In July 2023, Liam apologised to Zayn for discussing him on the podcast.
In July 2023, Liam apologised to Zayn for discussing him on the podcast
He opened up about his 100-day rehabilitation stay in a Louisiana facility, with the singer revealing that he’s nearly six months sober
He opened up about his 100-day rehabilitation stay in a Louisiana facility, with the singer revealing that he’s nearly six months sober.
Liam posted to his YouTube channel on 8 July with the tag: ‘I’m back.’ In the video, he admitted to removing himself from the public eye for his mental wellbeing and said he is now nearly six months sober.
‘I just needed to take a little bit of time out for myself actually, because I kind of became somebody who I didn’t really recognise anymore,’ Liam said. ‘And I’m sure you guys didn’t either. I was in bad shape up until that point and I was really happy to kind of put a stopper to life and work.’
In the eight-minute video, Liam also revealed that he was without his phone for the entire 100-day period, and that he ‘didn’t connect with the outside world at all’.
According to Liam, the ‘hardest part’ about leaving the facility was turning his phone back on, as he noted it was ‘a little bit scary’.
He also referenced his appearance on Logan Paul’s podcast Impaulsive in 2022, admitting he regretted some of the things he said about his former bandmate Zayn Malik.
During the episode, he professed a distaste for the fellow What Makes You Beautiful performer.
‘I think for me, a lot of what I said just came from the wrong place,’ Liam remarked. ‘I was so angry at what was going on around me that instead of taking a look inwards I decided to take it outwards.’
Liam thought his anger stemmed from frustrations with his career and, rather than reflecting privately, he took his feelings out on others.
He said: ‘I want to apologise for that.’ Additionally, Liam recognised his disregard for the impact his words would have, and acknowledged his ‘tough skin’ did not prepare him for the hate he received following the podcast appearance.
Zayn, along with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan, were apparently there for Liam in his time of need.
‘The rest of the boys have really stuck by me,’ he proclaimed. ‘When I needed them most they kind of came to my rescue, even Zayn as well.’
Swipes at each other in interviews and on social media
As their relationships began to go downhill, the band have taken swipes at each other from time to time during interviews or in cryptic social media posts (pictured in 2012)
Zayn won his first solo AMA in November 2016 and while Niall watched from the audience, Zayne asked in his acceptance speech: ‘This one has just my name on it, right?’
Liam tweeted Niall, Louis and Harry when he saw the hashtag #OneDirectionBestFans trending worldwide – but failed to mention original member Zayne
As their relationships began to go downhill, the band have taken swipes at each other from time to time during interviews or in cryptic social media posts.
Zayn won his first solo AMA in November 2016 and while Niall watched from the audience, Zayne asked in his acceptance speech: ‘This one has just my name on it, right?’
In 2018, another awkward moment arose when Liam tweeted Niall, Louis and Harry when he saw the hashtag #OneDirectionBestFans trending worldwide – but failed to mention original member Zayn.
He penned: ‘@NiallOfficial @Louis_Tomlinson @Harry_Styles can you believe this after so long?!!! Thank you so much you guys are unbelievable’
The Logan Paul interview also saw Liam admit there are ‘many reasons’ why he doesn’t like Zayn.
He said: ‘There’s many reasons why I dislike Zayn and there’s many reasons why I’ll always, always be on his side.
‘If I had had to go through what he went through, through his growth and whatever else. You know are your parents very supportive?
‘My parents are overly supportive to the point where it’s annoying at times and they don’t even mind me saying that. And Zayn had a different upbringing in that sense.’
He continued: ‘You can always look at the man for where he is and say, ‘Oh, yeah, whatever that guy’s a d**k.’ Right?
‘But at the end of the day, once you understand what he’s been through to get to that point, and also whether or not he even wanted to be there…
‘I’m so misunderstood by myself more than anyone, like I don’t know what I’m doing or why I’m here. It’s like, I can’t sit here and d**k on him because of whatever.
Zayn opens up on the real reason he left
In July 2023, Zayn finally opened up on the ‘selfish’ reason he decided to quit One Direction during a candid interview
He said: ‘There was obviously underlying issues within our friendships too, we’d got sick of each other if I’m being completely honest’
In July 2023, Zayn finally opened up on the ‘selfish’ reason he decided to quit One Direction during a candid interview.
He also admitted that the group grew ‘sick of each other’ after being together daily for five years.
Speaking to host Alex Cooper during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Zayn opened up on the moment he knew it was time to leave and detailed his desire to launch a solo career.
He said: ‘I don’t want to go into too much detail, but I knew for a minute there was a lot of politics, certain people didn’t want to sign contracts and I new something was happening so I was like I’ll just get ahead of the curb and get out of here, I think this is done.’
He went on: ‘I completely selfishly wanted to be the first person to go and make my own record. I jumped the gun and when it comes to my music I’m serious and competitive and I wanted to be the first to do that.
‘I’m a passive dude, but when it comes to my music and my business, I’m serious about it and I’m competitive, so I wanted to be the first to go and do my own thing. That was the reason.
‘There was obviously underlying issues within our friendships too, we’d got sick of each other if I’m being completely honest. We had been together nearly every day for five years.
‘We were close and got to do crazy things together which no one else in the world will ever understand. I look back now in a much fonder light than when I first left. It just ran its course.’
Building bridges and reunion talks
In May of this year, it was reported that Zayn was ready to extend an olive branch according to insiders , who claimed he is looking for ‘forgiveness and friendship’ from his fellow former One Direction members
After nearly a decade of estrangement and bitter jibes, Zayn was reportedly looking to rebuild a friendship (pictured on X Factor in 2010)
In the recent months ahead of Liam’s death, things seemed to be on the mend for the X-Factor formed boyband, with reunion hopes swirling.
In May of this year, it was reported that Zayn was ready to extend an olive branch according to insiders, who claimed he is looking for ‘forgiveness and friendship’ from his fellow former One Direction members.
‘He doesn’t know if it will ever happen, or when, but he would love to start a conversation with the other guys from One Direction and try to make amends with all of them,’ an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively.
‘He is trying to figure out the best way to reach out because it will be odd, weird, and uncomfortable, but it is something that has been on his mind.’
Liam recently reunited with Niall, as he attended his former bandmate’s concert in Argentina with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy.
In one backstage snap, Liam and the Irish singer, 31, seemed in high spirits as they posed for a selfie together and Liam captioned the snap with: ‘Reunited’.
The late One Direction star also showed his support for his pal as he shared several videos and snaps of him performing on stage to thousands of fans.
He captioned them with: ‘So happy I got to see Niall in concert (love heart emoji).’
Liam recently reunited with Niall, as he attended his former bandmate’s concert in Argentina with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy
He wrote: ‘So happy I got to see Niall in concert (love heart emoji)’
In another act of support, Liam made an appearance at Louis’ documentary screening for All Of Those Voices in March 2023
In August 2024, Harry also supported Niall at his Manchester date of The Show tour at the Co-op Live arena.
In another act of support, Liam made an appearance at Louis’ documentary screening for All Of Those Voices in March 2023.
All Of Those Voices explored Louis’ journey from being a member of pop boyband One Direction to forging his own solo career.
Afterwards, Liam wrote on Instagram: ‘Seeing the world through your eyes last night was the most beautiful thing to experience.
‘I’m so thankful to have you in my life mate I feel so lucky and I know you know this but you were part of a small group of people that literally saved my life.
‘You dragged me out of something so dark I’ve never shared it but your approach is something I admire and aspire to so I can one day do the same.’