First Zayn Malik left, then came news of "the hiatus" and now One Direction fans have been given another nasty shock - after Liam Payne shared an Instagram picture of himself posing with a cigarette.

Dressed in a checked shirt and wide-brimmed hat, the 22-year-old appears to be seated on a private jet as he smoulders at the camera while holding the cancer stick next to his face.

He offered no comment with the snap - but fans have been quick to jump in to offer their two cents.

Many have told him to stop being such a silly boy and stub it out, while others have defended his right to smoke if he wants now he's a grown-up - and more followers have interpreted his bad habit as a cry for help in testing times.

One upset user, kopilotti, wrote: "Dear Liam James Payne! Why are you smoke? We are love you so much so please don't smoke and throw the cigarette! You are a very clever boy so don't get wrong now!"

While j.sstyles took a firmer line, warning him: "IMMA SLAP YOUR ASS IF U EVER SMOKE AGAIN"

A user called t.riadriyana didn't appear to care too much, writing: "smoking hot"

And chxrline10_ told the other commenters: "Stop he smoke if he want !!"

Over to you Liam.