By Kim Burgess
Contributing Writer
Pass the Ben & Jerry’s and open a box of tissues, because the rumors are true. Zayn Malik has left One Direction.
The quintet has become a quartet after news of Malik’s departure hit the Internet last Thursday, March 19. His final performance with the band was on their “On the Road Again” tour on March 18 in Hong Kong. At the time, stress was cited as the impetus for his leave and the band made assurances he’d be back.
He has now been released from his contract, according to the statement made on One Direction’s Facebook page on Thursday, March 25, which goes on to say Malik’s decision is so he can live a more normal, private life.
One thing to take away from this situation is that his mental, and perhaps even physical, wellbeing were at stake if he remained in the band. Stress and exhaustion played a part in his leave, and looking at One Direction’s schedule it’s no wonder. Since forming as a group on “The X Factor” in the UK in 2010, the band has been working nonstop.
In the nearly five years they’ve been together, One Direction has released four albums and put on subsequent world tours to support them, as well as doing promotional tours for both endeavors. In addition to making music, the band has filmed television specials, a feature-length movie and two concert films, produced three perfumes, and landed various merchandising contracts and endorsements for companies including Toyota and Pepsi.
With that kind of demanding schedule, it’s no wonder Malik felt the need to flee. That kind of pressure would burn anyone out. Add in to that how the band exists in a society reliant on social media, with fans worldwide wanting to know and see every facet of their lives. Wanting privacy after living that kind of life is understandable.
One Direction is the most famous and successful boy band in history, with concerts outselling the likes of Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones. That level of fame comes with a lot of negativity and criticism. Raised in Bradford, England by a Pakistani father and English mother, Malik has frequently been the target of various racist and Islamophobic taunts. He had previously deleted his Twitter in 2012 after some attacks became too much for him.
His personality also didn’t seem to shine well in the limelight. He has always come across as shy and quiet, the least likely to be heard in an interview. In One Direction’s film, “This Is Us,” Malik is seen as a homebody; quiet and content making art and visiting his family. On stage, his seemingly aloof demeanor remained in place but his vocal performances never failed to wow the crowd. Malik was the one to take the most musical risks on and off stage, with a wide vocal range that frequently outshined his bandmates, much to the awe of fans and critics alike.
As an avid One Direction fan, the departure of one member feels like the dynamic of the band has changed, possibly to the point of disrepair. One Direction’s united brotherhood and affable personalities caused millions around the world to fall in love with them.
They always presented themselves as a unit, as if it was them against the world. They came across as relatable, seemingly never taking themselves too seriously and genuinely enjoying performing together. Even now, with Malik gone, the remaining members have been leaving spaces on stage where he would normally be.
I’ve been lucky to see them in concert several times. It can’t be denied they had a powerful stage presence. For a group that doesn’t dance, the band managed to put on a great show by mixing amazing live vocals with a good dose of crowd interaction and synergy between the five members that kept you looking for more.
One concert I went to was at London’s O2 Arena. There I met a lovely mother and her young son. They’d been fans since they saw the band on “The X Factor” and hadn’t gotten the chance to see them live before. The son especially was excited and to commemorate the occasion his mother had gotten him a One Direction varsity jacket, which was Malik’s signature look at the time. She later commiserated, “Sixty quid for a jacket, can you believe that?” I even remember a little girl behind me screaming for an entire song, “Zayn, I love you!”
The effect Malik had on the fans can’t be denied, but ultimately he’s made his choice and fans are now left to deal with it in their own way. While it may seem like a non-issue, One Direction is and was important to millions of people worldwide. Losing a member is akin to the feeling of the Beatles breaking up, Steven Gerrard leaving Liverpool F.C., Jeremy Clarkson getting fired from Top Gear. It may not be the end of the world, but it is the end of an era.
