Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Sarah Barrett

Where are the stars of One Direction now - family tragedies, famous girlfriends and controversies

One Direction took the world by storm in 2010, after forming and finishing in third place on The X Factor.

The boy band went on to release four successful studio albums — Up All Night, Take Me Home, Midnight Memories and Four.

After five years of world stadium tours, four-hit studio albums, and a life one can only dream of, Zayn Malik was the first member of the band to announce his departure in 2015.

Read more: Harry Styles announces new album set to come out ahead of Irish Aviva Stadium concert

In a statement, Zayn said: “My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band.”

After selling 70 million records worldwide, they became one of the biggest-selling boy bands of all time.

Together they achieved five Billboard Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, five American Music Awards and six BRIT Awards.

Since the band split each of the five members has gone in different directions, from the world of professional golf to starring in Hollywood movies and becoming fathers.

Here is a look at where Louis, Harry, Niall, Zayn, and Liam are with the possibility of a One Direction Reunion later in the year.

Harry Styles

Harry, 28, has gone on to become one of the most successful solo artists in the music world.

(Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

He was the youngest member of the band One Direction.

He became a fan favourite for his curly hair, wide smile and cheeky demeanour.

The heartthrob has been busy on stage and on screen developing his acting career.

After appearing in concert documentaries with One Direction, Styles made his feature film debut in Christopher Nolan's 2017 war thriller Dunkirk, as an Allied soldier named Alex.

Recently the Marvel film Eternals, Don’t Worry Darling, and My Policeman.

His self-titled debut album was released in 2017 and went in at number 1 in 14 countries, and his second album, Fine Line, was released in 2019 and was critically acclaimed.

The album made history with the biggest debut sales week for a UK male artist's first full-length album.

Harry also performed with country star Shania Twain (Getty Images for Coachella)

Throughout his career, Styles has earned several accolades, including a Brit Award, an American Music Award, two ARIA Music Awards, and a Billboard Music Award.

Aside from music, he is also known for his flamboyant fashion and is the first man to appear solo on the cover of Vogue magazine.

At the Met Gala in 2019, Harry was talk of the evening, pairing his jet black nail varnish with a sheer frilled black blouse.

Harry’s romantic relationships were followed obsessively by fans as he rose to fame. He was linked to Caroline Flack when he was just 17, Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevigne and several other celebrities.

(GC Images)

Reportedly, he is the subject of songs on Taylor Swift's album "1989", including "Style", "Out of the Woods" and "I Know Places". They were in a relationship in 2012.

Ever since he was a child, Styles was fascinated by music.

He enjoyed singing and even performed as the lead singer for his school band, ‘White Eskimo,’ which won several competitions.

Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley, and ‘The Beatles’ were Styles’ earliest influences.

There are rumours Harry is engaged to girlfriend Olivia Wilde (GC Images)

He's currently dating actor Olivia Wilde after the two met on the set of a film called Don't Worry Darling which Olivia was directing earlier in 2021 and is embarking on the Love on Tour.

Louis Tomlinson

Louis, 30, was the first member to become a Dad back in 2016 with his ex-girlfriend Briana Jungwirth.

His son Freddie is now six.

(NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Louis is currently with Eleanor Calder, a fashion model and blogger.

The talented songwriter was exposed to the show business at a young age, with his mum working on the UK TV show Fat Friends, alongside James Corden.

(Getty Images)

Throughout his school days, he remained active in school musical productions and did not focus much on academics.

In April 2015, Louis started his own record label, an imprint of Simon Cowell's Syco label.

Louis has gone through a very difficult time and had a lot of bereavement in recent years.

His mum Johannah, unfortunately, passed away in 2016 after a long and strong battle with leukaemia.

His sister, Felicité Tomlinson, often known as Fizzy, also passed away at 18 in 2019 after her mother's death due to an accidental drug overdose.

Louis released Just Hold On, a collaboration with American DJ/dance producer Steve Aoki.

The track served as a tribute to Louis's mother, Johannah Deakin, who passed away three days prior to release.

Just Hold On reached #1 on iTunes in 40 countries and debuted at #2 on the UK Singles Chart.

(Twitter)

From 2017 to 2018, Louis was signed as a solo artist to Syco and Epic Records.

The Doncaster Native released his debut album, Walls, was released on 31 January, 2020.

In May 2021, Tomlinson announced that he had signed a global deal with BMG to release his second album.

He also announced his world tour that was pushed back because of the pandemic would be rescheduled to February 2022.

Louise is involved in a lot of philanthropic and charity work and personally donated two million pounds to Believe in Magic, an organization that supports terminally ill children.

He is also involved with Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice and is one of their patrons.

Outside of music, he is a talented football player and has played in several charity matches to raise funds for charities like UNICEF, War Child, the Celtic Foundation and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation.

Niall Horan

Niall was placed in the band in 2010 on X-factor and is the only Irish member.

Niall Horan left the audience in stitches while guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live (Jimmy Kimmel)

The idol loves Golf as much as he loves music.

In February 2016, Niall became a director for golfing company Modest! Golf was formed from his prior management company Modest Management.

He caddied for professional golfer Rory McIlroy for the Par 3 contest prior to the 2015 Masters Tournament.

Niall Horan with Rory McIlroy during the pro-am for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic (David Cannon/Getty Images)

Modest Golf earned its first European tour win when Italian golfer Guido Migliozzi, the first golfer that the company signed back in August 2016, won the Kenyan Open.

The company has since signed several young players.

Horan's music style as a solo artist has been categorized as soft rock, folk, country, pop and indie-folk.

Horan has cited Taylor Swift as one of his influences, calling her one of the greatest songwriters of her generation.

Niall was the first remaining member of One Direction to release solo music during the band's hiatus.

He released his debut single, "This Town", through Capitol Records.

The song reached number one on iTunes in 49 countries and became a top 10 single worldwide.

In 2017, Niall had an incredible year winning the People's Choice Award for Favourite Breakout Artist.

Niall then began a small venue world tour, titled Flicker Sessions 2017.

During the album's promotional tour, Horan and his band made a stop in Dublin to record a live version of Flicker with the 45-piece RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Niall released his much-anticipated debut album, Flicker, and went on to win the American Music Award for Best New Artist.

Later that year, Horan returned with the single "Nice to Meet Ya," the first offering from his second album Heartbreak Weather, which was inspired by the aftermath of a breakup.

Niall Horan (Getty Images)

The talented artist performed alongside Maren Morris at the 51st Country Music Association Awards.

Niall has done an excellent job of keeping his controversies out of the press compared to the rest of his bandmates.

In 2018, the fan favourite went public with his romance with US singer and actress, Hailee Steinfeld, but has been linked to Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Barbara Palvin, and Ellie Goulding.

Niall has been in a relationship with British model Amelia Whooley since 2020, and they made their first public appearance as a couple at his charity’s Horan & Rose Gala in 2021.

Zayn Malik

The Bradford-born star released his debut single Pillowtalk which saw him become the first British male artist to have a number one in both the US and the UK.

(Getty Images for NARAS)

Zayn became a Dad in 2020 when he had a baby with supermodel Gigi Hadid who also appeared in the Pillowtalk music video.

He was pinned as the bad boy of the group and has been met with several controversies.

Despite appearing to want out of showbiz, Zayn was seen working with Naughty Boy in a recording studio the same month he announced he was leaving the band.

Zayn's life took a very different direction when he auditioned for The X Factor in Manchester when he was 17 and One Direction was formed.

The news of Zayn leaving the band sent shock waves through the enormous One Direction fan base, who are still not quite over it to this day.

A man of many talents, Malik can speak English, Urdu, and Arabic.

His follow-up singles I don't Wanna Live Forever and Dusk Till Dawn featuring Sia was equally well received.

(Getty Images for DCP)

Malik's departure from One Direction also gave him the opportunity to pursue his fashion interests.

In early 2017, he teamed with footwear designer Giuseppe Zanotti to launch a men's shoe line.

He also served as creative director for a Versace collection that debuted that spring.

In the same month, he co-hosted the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund's Americans in Paris annual cocktail during Paris Fashion Week.

Zayn and Gigi have had an on-off romance since 2015 (Getty Images)

Donatella Versace, the chief designer of Versace, appointed Malik as the creative director for a men's and women's capsule collection called Zayn x Versus, which was made available in May 2017.

In December 2018, Malik released his second album, "Icarus Falls."

Before starting his music career, Zayn wanted to become an English teacher.

Zayn has struggled with anxiety and has pulled out of many live performances due to his struggle with it.

Zayn Malik performs onstage (Getty)

After first entering the spotlight, he had a fling with Rebecca Ferguson and was with Little Mix star Perrie Edwards, from 2012 to 2015.

The pair were engaged and had even moved into a house together.

Perrie accused Zayn of dumping her by text and made a verbal diss to his new relationship with Gigi on stage in 2017.

(DC)

Malik then began dating model Gigi Hadid in late 2015. After a split in March 2018, the pair reconciled in late 2019.

In April 2020, it was reported that Malik and Hadid were to be parents expecting their first child together. They welcomed daughter Khai in September.

The couple then split in October 2021 amidst allegations Zayn had a physical altercation with Gigi's mom, Yolanda Hadid.

Malik entered a no-contest plea to four charges of harassment.

(GC Images)

He was sentenced by a Pennsylvania court to 360 days of probation and completion of anger management and domestic violence education programmes.

Liam Payne

Since the band’s hiatus in 2015, Liam's been most known for dating former Girls Aloud member Cheryl since the band went on hiatus, and the pair share a baby together, Bear, who was born in 2017.

Cheryl and Liam first met when he was 14 and she was 24 (Getty)

While the couple broke up in 2018, they have a good relationship and co-parent their baby amicably.

His solo career began promising after he released his single, “Strip you down”, but his debut solo album LP1, was the lowest charting album by a member of One Direction.

Music critic, Laura Snapes gave Liam’s first album one star out of five and criticised the music for being shallow and inspired only by carnal desire.

(CapitalOffical/Twitter)

She called it "a terrible pop album, but very effective contraception."

He cites Chris Brown, Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, and Usher as major musical influences.

At the beginning of his One Direction fame, Liam dated backup dancer Danielle Peazer after meeting on The X Factor in 2010.

In 2019 Liam was also linked very briefly to supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Liam and Maya have been engaged since August 2020 (Getty)

The star has been in an on and off relationship with model Maya Henry since 2019.

They announced their engagement in August 2020.

Eight months later Payne announced they had ended their relationship.

The couple got back together later in 2021 and became engaged once again.

After selling his properties in the US and UK, Payne currently lives in Buckinghamshire, England.

Read more: Met Gala 2022: From feathers to moustaches, Irish stars Nicola Coughlan, Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley

Read more: Where is Eurovision great Linda Martin now - RTE Late Late spat, partner and Louis Walsh friendship

Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.