Louis Tomlinson Shares “Cold” Moment One Direction Decided to Break Up

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Louis Tomlinson is reflecting on just how fast the night changes.

Harry Styles recalled the day he, Niall Horan, and the late Liam Payne decided to leave One Direction in 2016, noting that even though it was a mutual decision, it was still a tough one.

Louis remembered feeling a chill in the room that day, as he shared on the October 8th episode of the *Diary of a CEO* podcast. He specifically recalled that detail.

Even though he’s now 33, he sensed One Direction—the band that started on *The X Factor* in 2010—was nearing its end. He’s generally an optimistic person, so at first he tried to ignore the feeling. But eventually, it became impossible to do so.

He said it was a terrible experience. He didn’t understand the depth of his emotions until afterward, realizing he was deeply saddened – almost as if mourning the loss of a friend – over the band’s situation.

Although Louis had dealt with loss before, he said this felt unique, yet was still fundamentally similar to other experiences with grief.

He explained that One Direction didn’t often have truly deep or challenging moments. They mostly just went with the flow and supported each other, which was great. However, he felt there wasn’t much room for anyone to be assertive or prioritize their own needs, something he didn’t experience within the band.

As the group, including Zayn Malik before he left in 2015, began to think for themselves more, it marked a change for everyone involved.

Louis explained that while he recognized everyone present, the atmosphere felt different. “There was a strange emptiness,” he said, “I think because we all sensed what was about to happen.”

As One Direction was deciding to split up, Louis strongly opposed calling it a “hiatus,” even though that’s how the breakup ended up being described. He now admits he was probably unrealistic to think they could avoid that wording.

He recalled thinking that if he wanted to pursue independent projects, it would be helpful to know how long his current break would last. He started to consider different timelines – a year, two, five, ten, or even fifteen years – but never received a clear answer, something he now understands.

In retrospect, he believes the people who made the decision likely lacked the courage to truly confront the issue.

Honestly, it just breaks my heart knowing they *knew*. Louis said it himself – after everything that happened with Liam this year, he feels like they all understood what was really going on, and that’s why it was so incredibly difficult for them. It just confirms all my fears, you know? It’s like they were all carrying this weight, and now… it just feels so much heavier knowing they knew all along.

For a look back at some of One Direction’s most memorable moments, keep reading. 

I still can’t believe it! Everyone *loved* us, seriously, everywhere we played the crowds went wild! But in 2010, on the show, we somehow only came in third. Third! Behind Rebecca Ferguson and Matt Cardle… no offense to them, but *we* deserved to win, honestly. It still stings, even now.

The British band first appeared on *Saturday Night Live* in 2012, delivering an energetic performance of their hit song, “One Thing.”

The band won the award for Best Song of the Summer at the ceremony, receiving the iconic moonman trophy for their hit, “Best Song Ever.”

The band’s concert documentary, *This Is Us*, offers fans an inside look at life on the road during their This Is Us Tour.

In November 2014, the band had the opportunity to meet Prince William and Kate Middleton while performing at the Royal Variety Performance.

In 2014, the band’s Where We Are Tour earned more money than any other tour, surpassing those of major artists like Justin Timberlake, The Rolling Stones, Katy Perry, and the joint tour by Beyoncé and Jay-Z.

In March 2015, Malik announced that he was leaving the band to launch his solo career.

Following the release of their 2015 album, *Made in the A.M.*, One Direction—consisting of Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson—shared that they would be taking a break with no set return date.

In 2016, Louis Tomlinson had a son named Freddie Reign. The following year, Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole welcomed their son, Bear Grey.

Back in 2020, rumors of a possible One Direction reunion began when Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan all started following Zayn Malik again on X (formerly Twitter).

Adding to speculation about a possible reunion, Payne mentioned to The Sun that with their 10-year anniversary approaching, the band members had been in frequent communication recently, which he described as a positive experience.

Malik and his then-girlfriend Gigi Hadid welcomed daughter Khai in September 2020.

Payne attended the London premiere of Tomlinson’s 2023 documentary All of Those Voices.

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2025-10-10 22:17