One Direction not splitting up after hiatus, band's rep says

LONDON, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- One Direction's representative has denied Us Weekly's Wednesday report that the English-Irish boy band has split up instead of taken a break.

Us Weekly cited an unnamed source close to the music group as saying the quartet -- Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles -- has opted "not to renew their recording contract."

"The 1D thing just ran its course. They'll remain friends, but they are exhausted and want solo careers," the insider noted.

"Not true," the group's publicist told Gossip Cop when asked about the report.

Although the spokesman did not elaborate on when the guys might reunite, the website assured there is no reason to worry that they have taken the stage together for the last time.

One Direction has not directly commented on the story on its official website or Twitter account.

MTV rounded up on its website tweets from fans who were shaken by the news.

"If @onedirection could go ahead & address these break up rumors that would be great cuz I have work to do & I can't focus on anything else," Kelsey Adams pleaded.

"How the hell is one direction gonna break up whenever I just started to like them," Lauren Smith wanted to know.

"If one direction wanted to break up so badly why wouldn't they just tell us straight up?" @80smcqueen reasoned.