One Direction Fans Are Not Taking The Group's Split Well

British boy band One Direction will go on an “extended hiatus” next year, according to reports from People, E!, and The Sun. The news comes five months after Zayn Malik left the group and just a few days after current members Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Liam Payne dressed like astronauts for the “Drag Me Down” music video.

Sources have told the entertainment news outlets that the pop stars will go their separate directions to pursue different projects for “at least” a year, starting in March of 2016. In the meantime, the band will continue to tour, and their fifth album is expected to be released before their break begins.

Below is a sample of how both fans — as well as those mocking the fans — reacted to the news on Twitter:

TELL SIRI TO CHARGE YOUR PHONE TO 100% ONE DIRECTION BROKE UP @twaimz @twaimz

— TYSM ISSA (@Issa913270) August 24, 2015

So just heard @onedirection are taking a long 'break'.....let the Memes begin #OneDirection #1D pic.twitter.com/cho3aGe2nv

— Lora 💜 Young Forever⁷ (@LoraLojko) August 23, 2015

This #OneDirection news has me like. #multipledirections pic.twitter.com/uFI3ae4aiA

— Jeff Rojas (@iamjeffrojas) August 23, 2015

"one direction to split up in march." #OneDirection pic.twitter.com/sT1UjZptll

— chelle 🤎 (@nechelletiana) August 23, 2015

One Direction are splitting up#OneDirection pic.twitter.com/sPDet80o76

— Name cannot be blank (@YolOnlyFans) August 23, 2015

"Foursome to split and go their separate ways from March." #inevitable

Oh, you mean One Direction. pic.twitter.com/jpJJiO50sW

— David Schneider (@davidschneider) August 24, 2015

So there wasn’t only one direction after all

— #POPSHXT (@professorgreen) August 23, 2015

One direction go their separate ways - is this a paradox? Forgive me I left school in year 8.

— #POPSHXT (@professorgreen) August 23, 2015

Looks like the Dow is going in One Direction #conflatetrendingtopics

— Declan Cashin (@Tweet_Dec) August 24, 2015

 

Write to Olivia B. Waxman at olivia.waxman@time.com.