Is Liam Payne Back On the Market?

With One Direction's impending hiatus, the group's members are prepping for a whole new career phase: Louis wants to create the next Little Mix with Simon Cowell, and the ever-present rumors that Harry Styles may explore Hollywood grow louder with reports from E! and other outlets. Liam's shown up for the Post-1D Job Fair too, releasing a "Big Payno" club remix on the group's Perfect EP and writing a song for Irish boy band HomeTown. But he's reportedly starting a new personal life phase too — as a newly-single man.

If the UK's Daily Mirror is to be believed, Liam has parted with Sophia Smith, his girlfriend of two years. A source told the paper, "Liam and Sophia have split up. Liam is incredibly sad, but is going to keep busy."

"He really hopes that everybody will respect both his and Sophia's privacy and stop speculating," they continued. But plenty of Liam's fans are, in fact, speculating over a cryptic tweet posted on Friday:

He has yet to officially confirm the breakup, but his supporters will no doubt be there for him, just as they were when he was forced to cancel a Belfast tour stop at the last minute due to a broken heart illness (they have since made up the rescheduled date).

Sad the two couldn't make it work? Gaze at a photo of the two in happier times below — plus a now sort-of ironic Friends Dubsmash — and share your thoughts in the comments.

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