Did Paramore Just Break Up? The Rumors, Explained

Paramore fans have been worried about some potential some hard times. Rumors of the band breaking up started on Dec. 26 after the band scrubbed their X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram pages. Plus, per a CNN report, the band’s website — paramore.net — went dark. Paramore’s lead singer Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro haven’t publicly commented on the speculation — but sources claimed the breakup rumors were unfounded. And on Jan. 10, Paramore’s comeback was confirmed by A24.

A24 — an independent entertainment company — announced a new Paramore track on Jan. 10. “We've got a tape we'd like to play you. 16 tracks from 16 artists. Track 1: Paramore. Coming soon,” the company tweeted, along with a teaser clip of the song. It looks like the song will be featured on A24’s Stop Making Sense tribute album.

On Instagram, Paramore’s previously dark account also posted the video snippet, confirming what insiders told Variety on Jan. 5 — namely, that the band’s social media blackout and unreachable website had nothing to do with them calling it quits. Instead, it was because Paramore recently became a free agent.

The Jan. 5 report also seemed to be supported by an interview Paramore did back in December 2023. Speaking to UPROXX for a Dec. 14 cover, the members of Paramore agreed that their future was uncertain. Per the story, after wrapping up their This Is Why tour at the end of 2023, the band technically fulfilled all obligations to their label and were now considered free agents. (On Dec. 15, Paramore’s official Instagram account re-posted a screenshot of this particular section of the article on their IG Stories.)

“The only thing that matters is we will still get to be each other's community,” Williams told the outlet at the time. Farro added, “I just hope we can keep building the Paramore empire and then rule the world.”

So where did all the breakup speculation come from? On Dec. 26, Paramore surprised fans by wiping their accounts on X and Instagram. Williams did the same to her personal account. Considering the band’s website was also disabled, fans got concerned that the group might have disbanded. (Coincidentally, these rumors all gained traction on Dec. 27, Williams’ 35th birthday.)

Fans quickly convened on X to discuss the rumors. “WOKE [UP] TO SEEING PARAMORE BREAKING UP ?!?!!!???? HELLOOOO,” one fan wrote on Dec. 27.

Another fan commented on the rumors, “if paramore is breaking up, i won’t make it.”

But even before the Variety report and A24’s post, Paramore fans on TikTok were slightly more optimistic. After a video pointing out Paramore’s empty Instagram page and 404-error website went viral, fans flooded the comments section with alternate theories, hoping to disprove the breakup.

“They just fulfilled their contract with their last record label and aren’t resigning with them and probably going to be independent!! A refresh!!” one fan guessed.

Another wrote, “Paramore entering their Rep Era.” It’s possible they took some inspo from Swift’s 2017 album; the band is still scheduled to open for Swift’s Eras Tour during the European leg in 2024.

Paramore has had a complicated history with its membership. In 2010, founding members Zac and Josh Farro dramatically left the band. Then, in 2015, Williams secretly left the group to focus on her mental health. Flash forward to 2017, Zac Farro rejoined Paramore, and even began dating Williams in 2022.

The band also previously took a hiatus in 2018. “Let’s see what it’s like to not hang our identities on Paramore all the time,” Williams explained the band’s break to The Guardian in 2022. Four years later, they released music together again: the This Is Why album. And thankfully, it looks like that wasn’t their last.