A dangerous trend emerged on Twitter yesterday, after Zayn Malik announced his departure from British pop band One Direction on Wednesday. Twitter users made use of the hasthags “cut for Zayn,” “cut 4 Zayn” or “cutting for Zayn” and others threatened that there was no point of living at all.
Malik has not issued a statement about his fans allegedly inflicted self-injuries over his decision to quit. In his goodbye post on Facebook, the singer explained he was overwhelmed with the band and essentially wanted time to be a regular 22-year-old. He reassured his fans, and possibly his former band mates, that he will always consider Harry, Liam, Niall and Louis his friends.
“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,” Malik wrote. “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.”
His fiancée, Perrie Edwards, has been labeled the “Yoko Ono of One Direction.” When asked if she was the reason Malik left the band, “X Factor” judge Louis Walsh essentially said yes. Days before Malik shared his announcement, he posted a telling tweet about Edwards on his official account. “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,” he said.
One Direction, who are currently on a world tour, have sold more than 50 million records and had 91 number one hits globally.
The Band has officially arrived in SA today, without Malik, to kick-off their SA leg of their tour this upcoming week!
2015 ONE DIRECTION CONCERT DATES SOUTH AFRICA
- 28 and 29 MARCH: Johannesburg – FNB Stadium
- 1 APRIL: Cape Town – Cape Town Stadium
