Louis Tomlinson will never be able to reunite with One Direction after the death of former bandmate Liam Payne.

The ex-pop star, 33, is said to ‘despair’ at rumours that the surviving members could play together again, with the tragic balcony fall drawing a line under their previous successes.

The boyband were mooted to perform at this year’s Brit Awards in a final tribute to their friend, but reportedly turned down the offer with insiders sharing that they feel it could distract from remembering Liam at the event.

It would have marked nearly six months on from the 31-year-old’s death, after falling 45ft from the third floor of the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Louis has reportedly now moved on from the band – and is focusing on growing his clothing brand alongside tours as a solo artist.

In a warning before interviewing the Back to You hitmaker, The Standard was told by his representative that a story had ‘been running that the boys are going to reunite at the Brits for Liam.

‘Louis just despairs. He could never get up there and sing as part of the band after what has happened.’

The ex-pop star, 33, is said to ‘despair’ at rumours that the surviving members could play together again, with the tragic balcony fall drawing a line under their previous successes. Pictured: Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson in 2015

The boyband were mooted to perform at this year’s Brit Awards in a final tribute to their friend, but reportedly turned down the offer with insiders sharing that they feel it could distract from remembering Liam at the event

The BRIT Awards pay tribute to the incredible talent of Liam Payne

Louis later praised an emotional video montage paying tribute to his ‘brother’ at the star-studded show – saying it was ‘beautiful’.

In a statement shared to Instagram following Liam’s death, he said he was ‘beyond devastated’ by his friend’s death, and said that he will ‘always be an uncle’ for the late singer’s eight-year-old son Bear.

He shared the moving post along with a snap of himself and Liam performing together in 2015, before One Direction announced their hiatus the following year.

Louis is now said to be focusing on his clothing brand 28, for which he has recently launched his fourth collection.

Named after his favourite number, which is also tattooed on the fingers of his left hand, he says he celebrates the ‘chavvy’ clothes he loved when he was growing up in Doncaster.

Friends of the band have since claimed that the trauma behind touring in their teenage years has also contributed to their decision not to reunite.

And sources close to the Brits have added that there was ‘absolutely no interest’ shown by the boys when they were asked by the committee if they would consider performing.

Louis and Zayn are said to remain close, having been a trio with Liam, although they have become estranged with Harry. Niall is believed to have ‘moved on’ and now runs a talent agency for golfers alongside performing as a solo artist.

Liam pictured with girlfriend Kate Cassidy in March 2023. She had stayed with Liam elsewhere in Argentina but flew home before he checked into the CasaSur

The singer died suddenly aged 31 after falling from the third floor (circled) of the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires

Cheryl Tweedy and One Direction members mourn Liam Payne at his funeral

In a warning before interviewing the Back to You hitmaker, The Standard was told by his representative that a story had ‘been running that the boys are going to reunite at the Brits for Liam’

They were brought back together for his funeral, but even then they were not seen talking as a group.

‘They have happy memories, particularly of the early days, but towards the end things got pretty dreadful and they began to despise One Direction,’ an insider told The Mail’s Katie Hind. ‘There’s no way they would get back on that stage, even Liam’s death wasn’t enough.’

Liam was found dead by police on October 16 following a fall from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

He was laid to rest in a moving ceremony on October 31 after his body was returned to the UK, with all four members of One Direction attending his funeral.

At the start of this year, fans were delighted to see Louis support Zayn by attending his concert in Los Angeles, proving that the pair’s feud had thawed.

Sending the crowd into a frenzy of screams at the gig, Zayn informed them: ‘Tonight’s something special. An old friend of mine is here for me tonight.’

The Pillowtalk hitmaker – who quit the chart-topping boy band in 2015, the year before they announced their indefinite hiatus – didn’t want to give away Louis’ location to avoid fans all rushing at once to try and meet him.

He added: ‘He’s hidden somewhere here.

‘I don’t want to give his location away, but Louis is here tonight.’