The choreographed unity of the world's biggest boy band appears to have finally fractured beyond repair. Whilst fans have long clung to the hope of a One Direction revival, the competitive realities of the music industry have reportedly driven a permanent wedge between two of its most prominent members – Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson.
After One Direction's disbandment, its members pursued solo careers. However, Styles, who was the most popular member of the group, blindsided fans when he announced that his comeback single 'Aperture' would drop a day before his former bandmate's new album How Did I Get Here. Now, Styles and Tomlinson's relationship has come under scrutiny amid rumours of a falling out.
'They Are Not Friends'
Harry Styles is facing intense scrutiny following claims that he has 'no loyalty' towards his former bandmate, Louis Tomlinson. Tensions spiked after Styles scheduled the release of his experimental new single, 'Aperture', for 22 January 2026, after a four-year musical hiatus.
The timing raised eyebrows because Styles' chosen date was just 24 hours before the long-anticipated launch of Tomlinson's third studio album, 'How Did I Get Here', which arrived on 23 January. Insiders suggest the proximity of the dates was a strategic move by Styles to dominate the cultural conversation. Sources close to the situation allege that Styles feels no obligation to coordinate his professional timeline with his former colleagues.
'They are not friends,' an insider told Daily Mail. The tipster acknowledged that fans would always associate the two musicians due to their history, but insisted that everything between them was 'in the past'. 'Harry has no loyalty to Louis as it stands, and it's safe to say this whole song release has p***ed Louis off,' the tipster continued. 'The last thing he wanted was to compete with Harry on his big day. It feels like history repeating itself.'
An insider added that it was essential for Tomlinson to produce his own music, and he found it 'disappointing' that he was being pitted against Styles. Whether Styles' choice of date was intentional or not, many believed it eclipsed Tomlinson's big moment.
Did Tomlinson Shade Styles?
The tension did not remain behind closed doors, as Tomlinson took to X to share a message that many fans interpreted as a direct swipe at Styles. In a post that quickly went viral, Tomlinson expressed a need for help to 'cut through the noise' surrounding his album release.
Online sleuths viewed the choice of words as a pointed reference to the media frenzy generated by 'Aperture'. When Styles announced the release of his single, he broke the Internet. His Instagram post received over five million likes in just two hours. By framing the current landscape as 'noise', Tomlinson seemingly categorised Styles' recent output as a distraction from his own artistic efforts. While the post did not name names, the timing coincided with the peak of the chart battle between the two artists.
Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles are currently aiming for #1 debuts on this week's UK albums and singles charts respectively. pic.twitter.com/i6PH0b3uo2
— chart data (@chartdata) January 26, 2026
An Irreparable Rift Ends Hopes for a One Direction Reunion
The current fallout is reportedly the culmination of a deeper, long-standing deterioration in the pair's relationship. Allegations have surfaced suggesting that the two singers have not had a meaningful conversation in several years. Sources claim the competitive nature of their solo careers has created a toxic environment that precludes any future collaboration.
Given the severity of this personal and professional divide, many believe a One Direction reunion is 'unlikely' to ever occur. After One Direction disbanded, the group members have only reunited twice. First, when Tomlinson's mum passed away in 2016 at Simon Cowell's order. And second, at the funeral of Liam Payne in 2024, where Tomlinson reportedly avoided Styles at the event.
The Brits committee asked the group to perform at London's O2 Arena to pay tribute to their late bandmate, but they turned down the opportunity, according to the report. An insider claimed that 'there's no way they would get back on stage, even Liam's death wasn't enough'.
