ONE DIRECTION have rejected an offer to reunite at the Brit Awards and pay tribute to late bandmate Liam Payne.
I can reveal that Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik were formally approached by the Brits about appearing at the event on March 1.
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However, all four members decided against the idea and it is looking increasingly unlikely they will attend London’s O2 Arena for the biggest night in British music.
It is felt that a reunion by the boys may distract from remembering Liam himself.
Liam died in October after falling from the balcony of a hotel in Argentina, and they attended his funeral back in England the following month.
And despite being brought back into contact nine years after the group split, they are not planning to do anything as One Direction for the foreseeable future.
A music insider said: “It has been a really emotional time for the lads and it was decided it would just be too much.
“They have grieved in private and don’t feel the need to do a big, showy tribute for the sake of it.
“Millions of fans will be disappointed not to see them back on stage together but the time is just not right.
“Apart from anything else, Zayn lives in America now and they are all at different places in life. A One Direction reunion is not on the cards at all.”
Hopes had been raised about the four surviving members performing after a rumour spread on TikTok, which led to hundreds of fans racing to buy tickets.
Excitement built last month when it was revealed Louis had attended Zayn’s concert in Los Angeles, showing a thawing of relations between them.
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A second source said: “Liam’s friend Jack Whitehall is hosting the evening and is expected to say a few words.
“The tribute to Liam will be a strong section of the show and not simply an In Memoriam name-check.
“His family aren’t involved in the plans but they are being kept in the loop.
“The Brits are treating it with the utmost respect and sensitivity.”
‘Who we are’
The group have a strong connection with the Brit Awards, having won seven gongs between 2012 and 2017, including the Global Success prize twice.
Collecting the Video of the Year award for History in 2017, Liam said: “We have been taking a bit of time out and working on our solo material but One Direction is who we are and it’s who we will always be.”
The following year he performed his song For You with Rita Ora and in 2019 presented Dua Lipa and Calvin Harris with the British Single of the Year award.
I can’t blame the boys for not feeling comfortable getting back up there.
Regardless of what the tribute is, I’m sure it will be an emotional moment.
