Louis Tomlinson is addressing the One Direction split during his recent appearance on Steven Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO. Tomlinson commented on what happened in their final meeting before they went on a hiatus, with fans guessing whether his comments were about Harry Styles or Zayn Malik. The podcast episode had a limited release in theaters.
When Bartlett asked whether it was Simon Cowell who called for a meeting or whether it was a meeting between the boys or their representatives, Tomlinson shared,
It was just the boys, which was great. Always, it should be like that.
However, he also added, “It almost might as well have been representatives.”
He shared that they didn’t have many of those serious moments in One Direction as they always went with the flow. However, in those serious moments, he shared that people would turn “selfish.” He shared, “It was an atmosphere that never felt in the band.” He said:
Cause normally, like I said, we’re arm in arms and all this camaraderie. Then all of a sudden, you get someone thinking more independently and more for themselves. Which, by the way, they have every right to do, of course. But the room felt cold that day, I can remember that.
While Tomlinson didn’t reveal who he was talking about among his bandmates, some fans guessed that it could be Harry Styles. Fans didn’t believe Tomlinson was talking about Zayn because of their recent reunion. They found further clues in the Back To You singer’s statements.
zayn SO smart. he said that he found out certain people (harry) werent signing renewal contracts and that’s when he strengthened his decision to leave..harry made a fool out of 1d fans AND 1d members by saying “hiatus” but zayn sensed that and left and continued with his solo 🙂 https://t.co/6lXfnuKxnr
Tomlinson shared that all of the bandmates knew where the meeting was going because there was friction between them due to different ideas. He shared that he was naive and adamant about having some kind of indication about the band’s return. He shared, “Because it was originally said as… What’s that f**king word we used a million times… ‘Hiatus.’”
He called it a “cringe” word. He questioned when the band would be back, but he never got an answer for that question. He further added, “Truthfully, I don’t think the people or person involved were brave enough to answer that question deep down. They probably knew the reality, and that’s why it was tough.” Fans guessed that Tomlinson was talking about Styles here.
Louis Tomlinson’s Statement Aligns With Zayn’s Reason for Leaving One Direction
Louis Tomlinson’s statement suggested that the band was on the verge of a breakup in 2015. While it was Zayn who abruptly left the band first, his revelation in a 2023 interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast gave fans more clarity.
He shared that he left after realizing that they wouldn’t remain together long because other members refused to sign new contracts. He shared,
I knew something was happening, so I just got ahead of the curve.
He added, “I was like, ‘I’m just going to get out of here, I think this is done.’”
He admitted that it was a selfish thing to do, but he wanted to focus on his career, “I just seen it [coming] and I completely selfishly wanted to be the first person to go and make my own record.” He revealed that he was a “passive dude” but was very “serious” and “competitive” about his music and business. He shared:
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.
He shared that there were “underlying issues” within their friendships, which allegedly caused some trouble between them. Zayn shared that they had “got sick of each other” by that point.
Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik Are Set to Appear in a Netflix Show Together
Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik appear to have no bad blood between them. They are all set to reunite for an upcoming Netflix documentary series, directed by Nicola Marsh. According to Billboard, it will be a three-part series that follows the two former 1D band members on a road trip across North America.
It was further reported that the two would discuss their life, loss, and fatherhood during this adventurous trip. The series is being produced by Campfire Studios, which previously produced SmartLess: On the Road and America’s Sweethearts: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
The show will probably be released in 2026. Reports have emerged that Niall Horan and Harry Styles won’t be appearing in the show. Tomlinson and Zayn are both fathers. Tomlinson shares a 9-year-old son with his ex-girlfriend, Briana Jungwirth. Zayn has a 5-year-old daughter with his ex, Gigi Hadid.
Louis Tomlinson Recently Reflected on the Loss of Bandmate Liam Payne
Louis Tomlinson recently appeared on the cover story of The Rolling Stone UK. He opened up about the death of his former bandmate Liam Payne during the interview. Payne died last year after falling from the balcony of a hotel in Argentina. His autopsy reports showed that he had alcohol and cocaine in his system.
Tomlinson shared that Payne’s death had been “impossibly difficult” for him to navigate. He shared that they had to celebrate the band’s fifteenth anniversary on behalf of Payne. However, he shared that it wasn’t fair that Payne wasn’t with them to celebrate the event. He said:
There’s still a level in my head [where it feels] unjust and frustrating that he’s not with us anymore. So, it just brought up those feelings, although I’m still living with them anyway.
He also shared about how the grief of losing Payne was different from how it felt when he lost his mother and sister. His mom, Johannah Deakin, died from leukemia in 2016, while his sister, Félicité Tomlinson, died from a drug overdose in 2019. He shared:
It was really, really, impossibly difficult for me to deal with losing Liam. Naively, I thought that because at this point, I’m relatively well versed in grief for my age, that it might soften the blow. [That was] super-naive. It’s very different. I’ve never lost a friend before.
At the time of Payne’s death, Tomlinson wrote about him, “I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life, but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye” (via Billboard). He also called him the “most vital part of One Direction.”
What do you think of Louis Tomlinson’s latest statement about One Direction’s split? Let us know in the comments below!
