It was a devastating day for One Direction fans on March 25, 2015, when Zayn Malik decided to leave the band. The news came as a shock to many fans, as the boy band was at the peak of their fame and nothing seemed to stop them from conquering the music world. It was not just fans who were disappointed with the news. Justin Bieber’s reaction to the news proved how much of an impact the band had at the time.
Zayn Malik initially shared in a statement that he was leaving One Direction because he wanted to be a normal kid and have some private time out of the spotlight. However, he went on to launch a successful solo career, releasing four studio albums, a mixtape, and multiple singles.
Justin Bieber Had An Unforgettable Reaction to The News Of Zayn Malik Leaving One Direction
Justin Bieber usually ignored the paparazzi and media when he went out in public. But on March 26, 2015, he couldn’t really avoid them. He was leaving Bar 20 at the Grafton Hotel in West Hollywood when they caught up to him and asked about his thoughts on Zayn Malik leaving.
Bieber was initially busy taking some photos with fans, but the news certainly got his attention. His reaction was priceless, as he shared, “Zayn’s gone?! Nooooooooo! Not Zayn! That was my favorite Directioner!” Fans never knew that Bieber had a favorite Directioner at that point. However, his howling and disappointed reaction was typical of any One Direction fanboy.
Bieber was just one of the celebrities who immediately reacted to the news. Nick Jonas was one other celebrity who rooted for Malik and supported his choice to leave the band. In a statement to E! News, Jonas shared that it was a tough decision for the 1D vocalist. Jonas commended Malik for staying true to himself and doing what he felt was right. He shared:
It’s always tough. You know, there’s never an easy time to make a decision like that. I commend him for doing what he feels is right for him and you got to stay true to yourself.
There were critics as well, like Louis Walsh, the X Factor UK judge, who implied that Malik’s then-girlfriend Perrie Edwards played a factor in his choice. He shared with RTE Radio One that the boys were in a pressure bubble for five years and Malik was “the first person just to crack up a little bit” (via E! News).
How Did Zayn Malik’s One Direction Bandmates React to the News?
One Direction officially released a statement on Facebook announcing the news of Zayn Malik leaving on March 25, 2015. It included Malik’s statement apologizing to the fans and stating that 1D will continue to be the best band in the world. The band’s statement shared that they were really sad to see Malik go, but added that they respected his decision and sent him all the love for his future.
The following day, each of the One Direction members began to break their silence on social media on the matter. While Harry Styles was the first to post anything, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan addressed how strange the past days had been for them.
All the love as always. H
— Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) March 26, 2015
So glad to be in bed after a long and strange 24 hours
— Liam (@LiamPayne) March 26, 2015
Been a crazy couple of days but know that we are going to work harder than ever to deliver the best album we’ve ever made for you guys !
— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) March 26, 2015
Your support has been incredible , truly incredible so thank you so much !
— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) March 26, 2015
Been a mad few days and your support has been incredible as per usual ! This in turn Spurs us on to make the best music we possibly can
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) March 26, 2015
Put on great shows / tours for you guys.
You are the best fans in the world and you deserve nothing less from us!— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) March 26, 2015
In a later X post, the late singer Payne elaborated on the matter, adding that it was possibly one of the worst times for the band (via Daily Mail). He shared that their friendship with Malik was “far from over”. He shared that it was okay for fans to be sad and upset, but asked them to keep their faith in the band.
