One Direction was the defining boy band of the 2010s. They were the biggest thing since Backstreet Boys and N*SYNC, and as such, there were a lot of heartbroken fans when the band announced plans to go on hiatus in 2016.
It was a hiatus that proved to be permanent, given the recent and tragic passing of member Liam Payne. The surviving One Direction members attended Payne's funeral, and the circumstances in which they reunited led to mixed feelings of sadness and nostalgia for many.
Zayn Malik departed One Direction in 2015
The tragedy surrounding Payne's death, and the increased attention on One Direction, spurred us to look back at the band, and the circumstances that led to its dissolution nearly a decade ago. One that was largely brought about by the premature departure of core member Zayn Malik.
Malik was one of the most popular members of One Direction. He was the mysterious, moody one who stood out due to his stellar vocals and reserved personality, especially compared to the sillier and more openly friendly personas of, say Harry Styles or Niall Horan.
The singer revealed he was leaving One Direction on March 25, 2015. He issued a statement online, clarifying that he has no ill will towards the other members. He also stressed how much the band and the fans have meant to him. His reasoning for wanting to leave, at least initially, was to live life as a "normal" 22 year old, and enjoy himself after years of rigorous recording and touring.
This was true, to an extent, but Zayn Malik later admitted the other reason he chose to leave the band. During a 2023 appearance on Call Her Daddy, the singer claimed that 1D was already heading toward a break up, and he wanted to be the first one to strike out on his own.
Malik wanted to beat the other members to solo careers
"I just seen it and I completely selfishly wanted to be the first person to go and make my own record," Malik conceded. "I'm competitive, so I wanted to be the first to go and do my own thing. That was the reason." He also admitted that he'd always intended to embark on a career as a solo artist, even before One Direction took off.
It's hard to argue with Malik's decision, given the immediate success he saw out the gate. His debut solo single, "Pillow Talk," topped the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually went 5 times Platinum. It made Malik the first British artist to debut at number one in both the US and the UK.
The accompanying album, Mind of Mine (2016), did similarly well, going Platinum and earning strong reviews from critics. Malik's solo career has been sporadically successful since, but he does not have regrets when it comes to his decision.
He regrets not "enjoying" his time with One Direction, as stated during a 2024 episode of the Zach Sang Show, but he is ultimately grateful for the way things played out. He admits to being a bit too serious when he was younger, but now views things from a glass "half full" perspective.
A perspective that will undoubtedly be shared by 1D fans when they look back on the band's prime.