Zayn Malik goes Another Direction

One Direction have confirmed that Zayn Malik has left the band, saying that he wants “to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time”. Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson will continue as a four-piece for their forthcoming world tour and fifth album.

His full statement reads: “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.”

Read more at theguardian.com

Photo By Eva Rinaldi from Sydney Australia (One Direction) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons