He wasn’t happy for a while.
Zayn Malik spoke to Dan Wootton, The Sun’s Head of Showbiz, over the phone just 6 hours after leaving the world’s biggest band. The Sun’s content is behind a paywall, but now everything can be found all over the internet, including the audio of the interview. Listen HERE. You can read the interview HERE.
Transcript by 17 black:
Dan Wootton: Hey Zayn, how are you, man?
Zayn Malik: Um…yeah, interesting. I’m feeling quite interesting, let’s go with that.
DW: It must have been a nightmare of a week for you.
ZM: Um…ish, yeah. You know at the same time, it’s crazy and wild and a bit mad but, at the same time, I’ve never felt more in control. I feel like I’m doing what’s right, right by myself and right by the boys, so I feel good.
DW: Absolutely, and so what’s the plan?
ZM: Just to kind of be myself for a bit. Um, I think I’m just gonna write and relax and chill.
DW: How’s Perrie?
ZM: Eh, she’s alright, man. She’s a good girl.
DW: What does she think about it? Was she supportive or was she saying, “Look, give it another go”?
ZM: Yeah, she’s always supportive. She’s always good, man.
DW: What is your message that you’re wanting people to know?
ZM: My main message is I did try to do something that I wasn’t happy doing for a while for the sake of, maybe, other people’s happiness, and that was mainly the fans, and, and I only ever tried to do it for the fans. And it was only every for them, and basically I’m only upset because I feel like I may have let them down in some sort of way and that’s the main thing that I don’t want to happen. It’s not that I’ve turned my back on them or anything, it’s just that I can’t do that anymore. It’s not real to me.
DW: So you reckon the other four are in it for the long haul?
ZM: Yeah definitely, and when I was there as well we were all—it was not contingencies, y’know what I mean, it was always just doing what we were doing and that’s why it’s been really good for me, because I feel it’s been a bit different to what other bands are broken up by when a member’s left, or whatever. My band’s been really supportive, they’ve been really cool about it and they, they understand that, y’know it’s not real to me anymore. They still wanna do it for a while so they’re gonna carry on doing what they wanna do and I think they’re gonna do okay for a while. I think they’ll be cool.
Zayn's exclusive first interview since leaving One Direction with the Sun #1-3 pic.twitter.com/l0yjE4m3kD
— 1D Updates (@WW1DUpdates) March 27, 2015
Zayn's exclusive first interview since leaving One Direction with the Sun #4-7 -N pic.twitter.com/25BCk6TkHx
— 1D Updates (@WW1DUpdates) March 27, 2015
Meanwhile, the remaining 4 boys took to Twitter:
All the love as always. H
— Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) 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
The lads and I arrived in South Africa this morning . We cannot wait to see all you SA fans for the first time and have great shows.
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) 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
In light of recent events I think this is important to say. For the past five years now I've been part of (cont) http://t.co/rkSsnCOc4W
— Liam (@Real_Liam_Payne) March 26, 2015
One Direction’s tour continues tomorrow in South Africa.
The media has been covering Zayn’s departure from One Direction extensively. I’m going to list some articles from Billboard and Daily Mail here.
Billboard:
Why Zayn Malik’s Absence From One Direction is Far From Shocking (posted before THE ANNOUNCEMENT)
One Direction’s Zayn Malik Officially Leaves Group
Zayn Malik Explains One Direction Exit: ‘I Have To Do What Feels Right in My Heart’
Zayn Malik Leaves One Direction, But Don’t Expect a Justin Timberlake-Style Break Out
Zayn Malik Leaves One Direction: 10 Must-See Twitter Responses
23 Million Songs, 6 Million Albums & More: One Direction With Zayn Malik, By The Numbers
For One Direction, A Clean Break From Zayn Was the Right Move
One Direction’s Remaining Members Break Twitter Silence After Zayn Malik’s Exit
Zayn Malik Breaks Silence After Exiting One Direction
Daily Mail:
Zayn Malik CRIES on stage during emotional final performance with One Direction