LONDON (Web Desk) – One Direction are splitting up… at least for a year.
The boyband – comprised of Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson – have reportedly decided to take at least a year out to focus on solo projects and will not tour their upcoming fifth album.
The DailyMail quoted a source telling The Sun newspaper: “The guys have been together for five years, which is an incredible run for any boyband.
“They fully deserve to have at least a year to work on their own projects. There is absolutely no bad blood between them and they are all 100 per cent behind the decision.”
According to the paper, the group – who were formed on the UK X Factor in 2010 and have gone on to conquer the world – made the decision during crunch talks in London last weekend and their final show will be at Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on October 31.
The Sun reports that they have some work commitments in February and will take their break in March.
A representative for One Direction had no comment when contacted by MailOnline.
The source added to The Sun that Zayn Malik’s shock departure in March was not a factor in the split and it would have happened with or without him.
In March, Zayn Malik quit the pop band because he wanted to live a normal life and apologised his fans.
Read more: Malik quits ‘One Direction’, says wants normal life
The decision came after he dropped out of an Asian tour due to what, according to him, was stress when pictures of the singer, who is engaged to Perrie Edwards of Little Mix, were published showing him partying with another woman in Thailand.
“I’d like to apologise to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart. 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,” Malik said in a statement on One Direction’sFacebook page.
The announcement said Malik’s decision had come after five years with the band, which came to prominence for its performance on the popular televised singing competition “The X Factor” in 2010.
