For the first time in eight years, Zayn Malik discusses his departure from One Direction in detail. Malik spoke on why he made the decision to quit the British boy band that had propelled him to fame in a “Call Her Daddy” podcast appearance.
In his first interview in over six years, Malik explained that he decided to depart because he wanted to outperform his colleagues in starting a solo career. He also stated that after dating for five years, they had become weary of being together all the time.
A Stir in the Group Politics?
“I don’t want to go into too much detail, but there was a lot of politics going on.” he said.
Along with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne, the vocalist was a member of One Direction. They were all competitors on the 2010 season of the British talent competition show The X Factor, and they finally became a band.
By 2015, the band had achieved superstardom with a sizable fan base, four No. 1 albums, and Malik remembers being ready to go on. The singer claimed that as soon as he became aware that the band may be disbanding, and because of his competitive nature, he was prepared to quit the first time.
In March 2015, Malik announced his resignation, shocking the band’s followers to no end. That November, One Direction issued their last album without him. Later, in 2016, they took an indefinite break. At some point, each of the five members started lucrative solo careers.
In January 2016, shortly after his departure, Malik’s debut song, “Pillowtalk,” shot to the top of the charts. While seeking a solo career was a major driving force, the musician also admitted that spending so much time with his bandmates had worn them out, and they were ready for some time apart.
Despite having been considering leaving for some time, Malik claims his actual exit was “kind of spur of the moment,” and he didn’t even inform his parents about it. Malik noted that although his mother agreed with his choice, his father did not react well to it.