One Direction: Twitter goes into meltdown as Zayn Malik quits the band

 
End of an era: Zayn Malik quits One Direction
PA
Emma Powell25 March 2015
The Weekender

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Twitter went into meltdown this afternoon after Zayn Malik announced that he has quit One Direction.

The 22-year-old singer revealed that he has left the boy band to take “some private time out of the spotlight”.

In a post on the pop group’s official Facebook page the 22-year-old singer said: “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."

The hashtag #ZaynMalik was soon trending with endless rows of crying emoji’s lining sombre tweets as fans mourned Malik’s departure on social media.

One fan was so distraught by the news that she had to leave class because she couldn’t stop crying.

She tweeted: "i literally feel so sick and i'm crying in school but @zaynmalik love you so much #AlwaysInMyHeartZaynMalik"

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">i literally feel so sick and i'm crying in school but <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/zaynmalik" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-77056-https://twitter.com/zaynmalik" data-vars-event-id="c23">@zaynmalik</a> i love you so much <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlwaysInMyHeartZaynMalik?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-77056-https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlwaysInMyHeartZaynMalik?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#AlwaysInMyHeartZaynMalik</a>— . (@bashtonful) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/bashtonful/status/580778381966471168" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-77056-https://twitter.com/bashtonful/status/580778381966471168" data-vars-event-id="c23">March 25, 2015</a>

Another tweeter was angered by the news, writing: "THIS IS NOT FUNNY! ZAYN MALIK LEAVING ONE DIRECTION! I WANNA SLAP SOMEONE DEAD NOW"

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">THIS IS NOT FUNNY! ZAYN MALIK LEAVING ONE DIRECTION! I WANNA SLAP SOMEONE DEAD NOW— ZAYN DON'T LEAVE 1D (@Seasidesziam) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Seasidesziam/status/580771321837019136" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-77056-https://twitter.com/Seasidesziam/status/580771321837019136" data-vars-event-id="c23">March 25, 2015</a>

The singer's departure was also compared to the apocalypse: "The apocalypse is now: Zayn Malik is leaving One Direction: The worst has happened."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">The apocalypse is now: Zayn Malik is leaving One Direction: The worst has happened. It is the seventh apocalyp... <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&amp;id=222025&amp;p=http://t.co/ZpcOYVVPcy" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-77056-http://t.co/ZpcOYVVPcy" data-vars-event-id="c23">http://t.co/ZpcOYVVPcy</a>— Silicon Angel (@SiliconAngel) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/SiliconAngel/status/580775139714826240" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-77056-https://twitter.com/SiliconAngel/status/580775139714826240" data-vars-event-id="c23">March 25, 2015</a>

Others weren't so convinced that Malik will be able to lead a private life, posting: "zayn, sorry to burst your bubble but you are Zayn Malik you will never be a normal 22 year old with a private life."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">zayn, sorry to burst your bubble but you are zayn malik you will never be a normal 22 year old with a private life— opportunistyles (@opportunistyles) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/opportunistyles/status/580778426556145665" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-77056-https://twitter.com/opportunistyles/status/580778426556145665" data-vars-event-id="c23">March 25, 2015</a>

Celebrities were also quick to tweet their shock at the news with The Only Way is Essex star Bobby Cole Norris, writing: “Shocked to hear about Zayn Malik quitting 1D…#OneDirection #Zayn.”

Professor Green tweeted a broken heart emoji alongside the caption, "Has Zayne left 1D!? All posters immediately ripped off the wall when I get home," while Made In Chelsea’s Stevie Johnson simply tweeted “Zayn” alongside a crying emoji.

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