Zayn Malik has quit One Direction after five years.
The 22-year-old singer has made the decision to bow out of the chart-topping boyband, leaving Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson to continue as a four-piece.
Zayn said in a statement released to MailOnline on Wednesday afternoon: 'My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined.
'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.'
The Best Song Ever hitmakers will record their fifth album in Zayn's absence and will continue with the remaining dates on the band's forthcoming world tour.
One Direction said in a second statement released to MailOnline: 'We're really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future.
'The past five years have been beyond amazing, we've gone through so much together, so we will always be friends.
Meanwhile, Simon Cowell - who masterminded One Direction from five solo artists who auditioned for The X Factor back in 2010 - thanked Zayn for his commitment to the band.
He added: 'I would like to say thank you to Zayn for everything he has done for One Direction.
'Since I first met Zayn in 2010, I have grown very, very fond - and immensely proud - of him. I have seen him grow in confidence and I am truly sorry to see him leave.
'As for One Direction, fans can rest assured that Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis are hugely excited about the future of the band.'
Within minutes of the news being announced, the star's name was trending on Twitter as the heartthrob's fans mourned their pop idol's departure.
Reactions ranged from heartbroken, to compassionate to angry, but the overriding emotion was devastation.
On efa wrote, 'zayn please @zaynmalik i cant stop crying', while another said, 'Sitting in my room crying over zayn malik cant believe it my favourite person ever #zaynleavesonedirection #saddestimeever @zaynmalik'.
Some fans questioned whether the others could continue on as a four piece without Zayn.
'@zaynmalik we will never forget you because there is no one direction without you', one user posted.
Last Thursday, Zayn left One Direction's On The Road Again tour prematurely - abandoning band mates Harry, Louis, Niall and Liam - when he was accused of cheating on his girlfriend of three years.
A spokesperson for the band said: 'Zayn has signed off with stress and is flying back to the UK to recuperate. The band wish him well and will continue with their performances in Manila and Jakarta.'
He was holidaying in Phuket with fellow band member Louis when he was pictured holding hands and with a 19-year-old girl, Lauren Richardson, last week.
Two pictures, including one that saw Zayn resting a hand on the same girl's midriff in an embrace and another of him leaving the Seduction nightclub with the girl, quickly went viral on social media.
As a result flew straight home for 'crisis talks' with girlfriend Perrie Edwards, who he has been engaged to just over a year.
Zayn tweeted about the most recent incident to publicly apologise for 'what it looked like' and declare his love for the Little Mix singer, shortly after the incriminating pictures surfaced.
He wrote: 'I'm 22 years old... I love a girl named Perrie Edwards. And there's a lot of jealous f**ks in this world I'm sorry for what it looks like x.'
The singer and his fiance spent five hours talking at the house that they shared, with Perrie leaving without her engagement ring and with her bags packed.
The One Direction holiday sparked a second scandal on Sunday morning when pictures of Louis Tomlinson kissing a girl in a pool emerged and rocked his four-year relationship with Eleanor Calder, which is now thought to have ended.
Four piece Harry, Louis, Liam and Niall continued with the Asian leg of the 1D tour though the band sparked criticism when Liam jokingly covered up Zayn's face on a poster.
Zayn was thought to be the most reluctant member of One Direction from the start.
He first auditioned as a solo singer on the X Factor in the summer of 2010, but his mum admitted in 2013 that he was reluctant to audition.
Speaking to BBC News, Trisha Malik said: 'On the morning of the audition Zayn didn't want to go. He chickened out, saying: "Can't I just leave it?"'
Coaxed into it, Zayn's mum said that he should see how it goes.
'He hated dancing but loved singing,' she recalls. 'He used to sing until three o'clock in the morning and I often used to have to ask him to turn it down.'
Daily Mail.
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