Directioners have taken to Twitter to express their shock - or lack thereof - as the news begins to spread.
Reactions have been mixed, as fans venture through the five stages of grief.
At first, there was denial. "I will believe that One Direction is breaking up when Harold writes me a personal handwritten letter declaring his intentions to me directly," wrote Matt Bellassai.
Of course, we all know that denial soon turns to anger - and with anger comes ALL CAPS:
Anger eventually gives way to bargaining. It's too late guys ... or is it?
Then comes depression - and it's only going to get worse if the split is confirmed:
And finally, acceptance - although only a minority have reached that stage, it seems. Might have to head back to denial for now.
And just to rub salt in the wounds of the One Direction fandom, loads of people made the same joke:
- nzherald.co.nz
