One Direction star Liam Payne is believed to be single after reportedly splitting from girlfriend Sophia Smith after two years of dating.
The couple, who had been friends since their school days, began a relationship in 2013 and have now decided to go their separate ways, according to reports.
MailOnline quoted a source as saying: "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."
On Saturday (October 24) Payne tweeted a cryptic message, which is now believed to have been about the break-up, saying: "I love how music is always there for you when you need it most x."
Many fans are speculating that the break-up may be the reason he was too ill to perform with One Direction in Belfast last week, causing the group to cancel and then reschedule the first of their three concerts in the city.
A source told The Sun newspaper at the time that the 22-year-old singer was "physically" unable to get on the stage. "The pressure of fame and being on the road for two years have made Liam ill," they said.
"He had a complete meltdown. Liam's stress has been brewing for quite a while and it hasn't helped that his future is uncertain with the [group's] break coming up."
This is the third breakdown of a long-term relationship within the boyband with former 1D singer Zayn Malik ending things with his fiancée Perrie Edwards, and Louis Tomlinson also calling time on his relationship with girlfriend of four years, Eleanor Calder, earlier this year.
I love how music is always there for you when you need it most x
— Liam (@Real_Liam_Payne) October 24, 2015
