Less than a week after Zayn Malik pulled out of the One Direction tour to fly back to the UK and deal with “stress” (due to being caught cheating on fiancée Perrie Edwards yet again), it’s been announced that Zayn has officially left the group for good. The new broke just a few minutes ago with the following post on the group’s Facebook page:
After five incredible years Zayn Malik has decided to leave One Direction. Niall, Harry, Liam and Louis will continue as a four-piece and look forward to the forthcoming concerts of their world tour and recording their fifth album, due to be released later this year.
Zayn says: “My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I’d like to apologise to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart. I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world.”
One Direction say: “We’re really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future. The past five years have been beyond amazing, we’ve gone through so much together, so we will always be friends. The four of us will now continue. We’re looking forward to recording the new album and seeing all the fans on the next stage of the world tour.”
Simon Cowell says: “I would like to say thank you to Zayn for everything he has done for One Direction. Since I first met Zayn in 2010, I have grown very, very fond – and immensely proud – of him. I have seen him grow in confidence and I am truly sorry to see him leave. As for One Direction, fans can rest assured that Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis are hugely excited about the future of the band.”
Huh. I can’t say I’m exactly surprised by this. Zayn was always a bit of an outcast (he was the last chosen for the group when Simon put them together on The X Factor) and clearly couldn’t stand the pressures of fame. One down, four more to go. Is One Direction’s reign going to grind to a halt now?
Good luck to him getting his life together and he should be able to live it somewhat out of the limelight because the pop music career is done.