After leaving One Direction and breaking millions of hearts the world over, Zayn Malik is apparently feeling happy and confident with his decision, admitting he "can't do this anymore" and that he had "never felt more in control in my life."
In a recent interview with The Sun, Malik said that while his decision was "crazy and wild and a bit mad," he felt like "I'm doing what's right, right by myself and right by the boys." He slammed reports of rifts between the 1D members -- consisting of Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Niall Horan -- but admitted he had wanted out of the group for some time.
He told the newspaper he really tried to do something he "wasn't happy doing for a while, for the sake of maybe other people's happiness." Therefore, he said he was "only upset" because he felt like he "may have let them (fans) down."
"It's not that I've turned my back on them or anything, it's just that I just can't do that anymore because it's not real to me," Malik added.
The 22-year-old singer announced Wednesday, March 25, that he was quitting the world's biggest boy band after working with them for five years. In a statement on One Direction's Facebook page, Malik said he'd like to be a normal young adult "who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight."
It will be recalled that the ex-1D member had earlier left the group's ongoing Asian tour due to "stress," following cheating rumors involving him and a blonde woman he was snapped holding hands with in Thailand last week, rocking his relationship with fiancée Perrie Edwards.
The pair seemed to have sorted out their conflict, however, as Malik confirmed to The Sun that his engagement with the Little Mix singer has not been broken off. He also praised Perrie for being "a good girl" and for being "supportive" of his decision.
Just a day after the news of his departure from One Direction broke, the singer was spotted stepping out to visit a recording studio in London. Malik is reportedly embarking on a solo career, despite his initial statement claiming he wanted to step away from the spotlight, according to MailOnline.
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