It could be really hard being in the public eye sometimes.
Zayn Malik proved this after he officially quit the intensely popular boyband, One Direction, today. In a statement, he apologised to people and fans he might have let down by his decision but admits it his call to make for his overall well-being. He particularly anchors his decision on an intense want to "live his life as a normal 22 year old out of the limelight."
Though his bandmates released a statement confirming the development and expressing their good wishes to him on future endeavours, reports said they are still clinging to hope Zayn would reconsider by offering him a ready chance to return to the team once he overcomes his current challenges.
In another sign that the news hit some of the members of the band hard, Harry Styles, a frontline member of the team, broke down on stage and wept uncontrollably as the team performed a few hours after Zayn's announcement on the Asian leg of their On the Road tour in Jakarta, Indonesian capital tonite. Fans watched helplessly as Harry walked aimlessly round the stage, weeping, during a segment that showed Zayn projected on a screen behind the stage. Fellow bandmates rushed to console him; Louis Tomlinson even crooked an arm beside him in an imaginary embrace to indicate an hug from Zayn in an attempt to cheer him up but this went on for a while before he finally composed himself somewhat.
Extremely shy and reserved Zayn has struggled with fame throughout his five-year membership of the band. Besides other issues, the effect fame has had on his relationships have hit him hard. His earlier relationship with a then fellow X Factor contestant crumbled after four months due to invasive public scrutiny.
After his engagement to Perri Edwards, various untrue publications have attempted to link him with various women which he denied but often leaving dents in his relationship.
With the latest accusations allegedly linking him to a woman soon after their Asian leg of their global tour commenced last week, Zayn apparently hit rock bottom. He took a break from the band to fly back due to "stress" brought on by claims the report led to a row with Perri. He ought to return to the band earlier this week but he did not despite attempts to get him to do so by his bandmates and the band's management. Harry reportedly blew up the phone with several frantic calls he made to Zayn begging him to return to the band.
Many theories have surfaced on why Harry was particularly gutted by Zayn's decision. He gets the most intense media scrutiny out if the entire band for his looks and dalliances with many women. While that is an issue for him as well causing a strong bond with Zayn, he could also be struggling with a bigger secret eating him out and for which Zayn is the only confidante and sounding board for his ability to deal with the situation. Harry is rumoured to be a closet gay and his frequent and typically short romances is a disguise to hide his real sexuality. Harry is often seen at gay bars. So, Zayn represents a kindred spirit with their different struggles. With this vacuum in the band to confide his fears to, Harry was understandably doubly devastated.
Eventually, Zayn did not return for the band's performance today. Realising, he could not put off his decision any longer, he announced his departure from the group.
Fans all over the world have sent the blogosphere into a frenzy as they react with shock, anger and pain. Many begged him to reconsider while some vented venom at his fiancée for causing the situation.
Judges Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger gave the world the band after joining them into a group though all five members auditioned individually in 2010's X-Factor. They emerged third overall but Cowell signed them on to a record deal. A year later, their single, Just Because You're So Beautiful, was a global hit and set them off to superstardom.
Through it all, Zayn struggled. His mother, Trisha, said he almost chickened out right from even the auditions but fate has other ideas as he was made a member of the band in the auditions. He thought he had an out when the band didn't win the show, but, incidentally they were recalled and given a contract which wants all five boys together and he just went along with the ride in order not to let his mates down but things snowballed out of his control with the band's success, sex symbol image, superstardom and constant false media reports.
He would have trudged on if not for the press report. Another break up caused by a false story was something he could not live with. Perri reportedly had a hard time with the scrutiny, demanding schedule, constant reports of him allegedly cheating and often tried to break off with him. Zayn always maintain his innocence and always manage to win her back. Reports said he moved up their wedding to prevent her from breaking off the engagement. With his abrupt rush back to England last Thursday, it was crystal clear that the drain got too much for him to handle.
This led him to take a bow from One Direction finally.
So long, Zayn.
