Stay calm. Do you know where your teen sibling is? Might be a good time to check on them: Boy band sensation One Direction just announced that member Zayn Malik has left the band.
The news comes at a turbulent time: One Direction is in the middle of a world tour and plans to release a fifth album later this year. The 22-year-old performer was already absent from the current tour for "stress"-related reasons, and has been embroiled in some relationship drama. In a statement, fellow group members Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson say that they will carry on as a quartet in Malik's absence.
"My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined," Malik says in a statement of his own. "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."
"We're really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future," the rest of One Direction adds.
Needless to say, the teen Internet is having a hard time right now, as the #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik and #ByeZayn trending topics demonstrate. Everybody grieves in their own way. Do your part. Hug a teen.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Zach Schonfeld is a senior writer for Newsweek, where he covers culture for the print magazine. Previously, he was an ... Read more
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