And he’s out! Zayn Malik has quit One Direction after half a decade with the boys. And just released his official statement about his departure:
“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 apologize 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.”
Totally understandable, right? The remaining foursome-Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Harry Styles also released a statement:
“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.”
Also with comment is Simon Cowell, who formed the boy band on The X Factor in 2010. His thoughts were, “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.“
His exit comes on the heels of him being accused of cheating on his fiance, Litle Mix singer Perrie Edwards. He vehemently denied these rumors on Twitter, saying, “I’m 22 years old… I love a girl named Perrie Edwards. And there’s a lot of jealous f–ks in this world I’m sorry for what it looks like.”
So what do you think about Zayn leaving One Direction?
