They owe, they owe, so off to work they go: despite rumors to the contrary, One Direction is NOT breaking up, simply because they owe way too much money to do so! 

According to TMZ, the British five-piece boy band first started receiving rumors of their imminent demise after Liam Payne (oh, that Liam!) went to the Brit Awards and claimed that he hadn't seen his fellow bandmates "in months." In fact, however, the boys are all writing their songs individually, which is of course part of their contract. Indeed, Harry Styles confirmed that the reason the boys hadn't been together in a few months is because they're "taking some time to visit their family and friends," and will be back together shortly enough to finish recording their next album.

And they'd better get a move on it, too, because according to the same site, the boys still owe 3 albums under the terms of their recording contract. If they fail to deliver, or renege on their deal, they not only get bupkis in terms of funds, but they could be sued out their collective tuchas for breach of contract.

Indeed, according to Metro, Liam Payne (oh, that Liam!) slammed the subsequent rumors of an imminent One Direction split (that came from his big mouth, but whatever...), claiming that the boys are all hard at work on writing their next album. "People say we don't work hard and it's all a game and whatever. We just wanna make good music, and this album -- honestly, every lad out there tonight who's thinking One Direction are this and that. Literally, next album -- pick up our album and see what you feel," he said. 

In case you were curious, One Direction took home two Brit Awards -- one for Best Video (which was voted upon by the viewers), one for Global Success. Harry Styles was late in joining his fellow bandmates onstage because -- similar to Christine Lahti at the Golden Globes a few years back -- he was "stuck in the loo" (going to the bathroom).