The worst has happened. It is the seventh sign of the apocalypse. The world will never be the same.
Zayn Malik is leaving One Direction. [Insert sound of billions of teenage girls' hearts shattering.]
A Facebook post on Wednesday announced the news:
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));After five incredible years Zayn Malik has decided to leave OneDirection. Niall, Harry, Liam and Louis will continue as...Posted by One Direction on Wednesday, March 25, 2015
The four remaining members of One Direction also issued a statement saying they "respect his decision," and that Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall will continue making music as a four-piece band.
it was 5 great years… A photo posted by niazkilam (@zaynmalik) on Mar 25, 2015 at 10:17am PDT
The news comes after Malik's decision last week to leave the international tour due to "stress." His departure came following news that the Philippines' Bureau of Immigration imposed a "weed bond" on Malik and fellow bandmate Louis Tomlinson while 1D was in the country for a show.