One Direction is taking an extended hiatus, starting in 2016

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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Reports surfaced on Sunday afternoon indicating that pop music group One Direction has called it quits. It turns out the rumors are true -- sort of.

The first rumblings that the boy band was finished came via the UK's Sun, which broke the news to legions of skeptics. That skepticism was understandable, considering that the Sun has been predicting the end of the band for at least a year.

But follow-up reports from E! News and People have confirmed that Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne are planning to part ways, at least temporarily.

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The breakup is being characterized as a hiatus that will allow the band's members to focus on solo projects, rather than a permanent breakup.

But hold the Kleenex, and don't trash your One Direction poster-wallpapered room yet -- People indicates that the hiatus isn't scheduled to begin until next March, while E!'s source says the group "will remain together and plan to work together in the future." Either way, it means that the group won't tour in support of its upcoming fifth album, which is expected to drop later this year.

The imminent break comes just months after One Direction band member Zayn Malik left the group to pursue a solo career.

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