One Direction officially did not "break up" but went on an indefinite hiatus in January 2016. The key events leading to this were:
- Zayn Malik left the band on March 25, 2015, during their "On the Road Again Tour," citing a desire to live a normal life and take a break from the intense spotlight.
- After Zayn’s departure, the band continued as a four-piece but later decided to take a break collectively.
- The band publicly announced the hiatus in 2016, allowing members to pursue solo projects without officially disbanding.
So, while they never declared an official breakup, their indefinite hiatus starting early 2016 marked the effective end of their work as a group for the time being.
