One Direction is headed in a new direction.
The group confirmed that Zayn Malik, the singer who last week exited the band’s tour due to “stress,” was leaving the band Wednesday.
“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,” read a post on Facebook.
Zayn contributed to the statement, saying, “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. 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.”
The news comes after reports that Zayn could no longer cope with “the level of scrutiny he gets put under.” The singer recently came under fire after images of him getting cozy with a young woman who was not his fiancée, Little Mix member Perrie Edwards, surfaced.
“I’m 22 years old… I love a girl named Perrie Edwards. And there’s a lot of jealous f—s in this world I’m sorry for what it looks like x,” Zayn tweeted on March 18.
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The group added, “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, who assembled the one-time five-piece, chimed into the statement as well. “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,” he said.