Photo Credit: JStone / Shutterstock.com
Following yesterday’s announcement that Zayn Malik was leaving One Direction, devastated fans took to Twitter to express their pain and anguish.
In an announcement on the One Direction Facebook page yesterday it was revealed that Zayn would be leaving the boy band five years after its creation on Britain’s X Factor. The remaining four members will continue on without him.
“I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band,” said Zayn.
“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.”
The young star decided to take time off from the One Direction On The Road Again tour, saying he was struggling with stress.
In the statement yesterday he added that he was sorry if he had “let anyone down.” As it turns out, that was something of an understatement.
Distraught ‘Directioners’ made no attempt to hide their feelings, pouring their hearts out to Zayn on social media.
There were several hashtags – #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik and #ZaynWillAlwaysBeAPartOf1D were among the longer ones, and the more simple #ZaynMalik continues to trend on Twitter the following day.
Have a look at some of the most over the top reactions:
@zaynmalik i love you so much okay i’m so sorry it had to end like this i’ll always support you no matter what i promise
— beth,, (@natureboyirwin) March 25, 2015
“It’s just a band” DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MISERABLE MY LIFE IS AND ITS THE ONLY SOURCE OF FUCKING HAPPINESS I RECEIVED YOU FUCKING TWAT — christymalik1D (@Tomlinhunks) March 25, 2015
I’VE SPENT MY TEENAGE YEARS HEAD OVER HEELS FOR THIS BOYBAND AND ALL I GET IS A DAMN FACEBOOK POST I HAVENT BEEN PN FACEBOOK FOR 3 YEARS
— we love you, zayn. (@tinykidstyles) March 25, 2015
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I HATE EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO’S HURT ZAYN’S HEART #AlwayInOurHeartsZaynMalik #ZaynWillAlwaysBeAPartOf1D — ill miss you zayn 🙁 (@93zixm) March 25, 2015
#WeWillMissYouZayn my heart just shattered into a million pieces pic.twitter.com/O5fECnIu80
— calum pls?:-) (@choconixll) March 25, 2015
I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS! I JUST CAN’T!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS NOT HAPPENING! I’M GOING TO DIE! #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik — 5EVER A ZAYN GIRL! (@tinanina993) March 25, 2015
YOU FEEL OKAY FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN REALITY HITS YOU AGAIN #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik
— zaynmalik1D (@invisibleziam) March 26, 2015
Nothing can express my pain right now. #ByeZayn #ZaynMalik — goodbye zayn. (@hey_its_gab_) March 25, 2015
I’m trying so hard to stay strong for him, but I’ve never cried so much in my whole life, and I’ve never felt so broken or empty #ByeZayn
— WE LOVE YOU ZAYN (@maje_styles) March 25, 2015
A number of fans also posted videos of themselves sobbing and begging Zayn to return to the band.
Meanwhile, Zayn himself has been quiet on social media since the announcement – we wouldn’t blame him if he was avoiding it entirely until the drama subsides!