Zayn Malik And Harry Styles Have Left One Direction, But Liam Payne Denies The Group Is Breaking Up

Everyone knows Zayn Malik and Harry Styles have left One Direction. It’s been confirmed by countless media and insider sources, but Liam Payne continues to insist the band will get back together in a year, or maybe a year and a half. He even holds out hope that Zayn will return, and definitely believes Harry Styles is coming back. The One Direction guys are just tired out from the past 5 successful years, and need a break, according to Payne. Whenever asked, he simply insists that by this time next year the band will be back together. It’s not really a break-up, he claims.

“No, no, no! We just got nominated for two Brits.”

Liam Payne is correct, despite the absence of Zayn Malik and more recently Harry Styles, One Dimension single and album sales are higher than ever. Their single, “Perfect,” is their fifth single to go to the top 10, according to Billboard. This exceeds records set by the Beatles back in the 1960s. It does seem a bit crazy for a band to break up at an all-time career high like this. Ironically, though, it seems even crazier to take a lengthy break at a time like this. Logically, they should be out there, working while they are young and popular, not backing off, if everything is really OK. Breaks are for older musicians in their 40s, aren’t they? Boy bands are only boys for a little while, so time needs to be used wisely. In this YouTube video, Niall Horan joins Liam in insisting the band is just on a break.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4LrvpYTIoE

So is Liam Payne in denial, that Zayn Malik and Harry Styles have left One Direction? Maybe he’s right. Perhaps at some point even Zayn Malik will return. Billboard reports Zayn isn’t ruling out the possibility of a future reunion. Zayn’s only complaints were directed toward management, not the band. So perhaps someday, when no part of One Direction belongs to Modest Management, he will tire of his solo career and return. Harry seems to just be getting started on his own solo journey, but does that necessarily preclude a reunion with the band in a year or two? Anything is possible.

Though Zayn Malik and Harry Styles ended their contracts with Modest Management, it isn’t necessary to blame the management company for their dogged restrictions and control of musical styles away from controversy. They were hired by X-Factor executives to keep One Direction out of trouble when the boys were underage. Now, though, it seems unfair to restrict grown men in ways that limit them to a G rating in their lyrics and style.

Still, Liam Payne is following Zayn Malik and Harry Styles’ lead and doing some solo work. Maybe he is hedging his bets a little? Sugar Scape reports that Liam’s new songs will appear on Juicy J’s new album. Since everyone “went on break,” Liam has been spending a lot of time hanging out and collaborating with Juicy J. Both Liam Payne and Juicy J seem to be very proud of Liam’s new solo songs. They have let small segments of two songs leak to YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9V2_Gb96xo
Since Harry Styles and Zayn Malik have left one direction, Liam Payne has continually insisted the band has always planned to get back together after a long break of a year to eighteen months. Perhaps if Harry doesn’t come back, One Direction could become a trio or a duet. Both Liam Payne and Niall Horan seem to want to stay in the group, and for everyone else to return. Eventually, they could get their wish.

Liam Payne and Niall Horan apparently hope Harry Styles and Zayn Malik return to One Direction. Will they?

[Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]