As we all know, Zayn Malik left the boy band One Direction last year, stating he felt like he was locked inside a cage while touring and making music with the group. At the time, Zayn also said his creative contributions for the band's music were often overlooked and bubblegum pop music was often chosen instead.
This would eventually lead him to sign a new record deal with RCA - only it was a solo career this time around.
After ditching the group for over a year, Zayn Malik has spoken out as to why there was no chance he would stay with One Direction at that time. Without giving anyone a notice ahead of time, Zayn revealed that he wasn't mentally prepared for the success - and the stress - that came with being a member of One Direction.
Zayn Malik states, "I was very ignorant at 17 - blind beyond my years," referring to his time on The X Factor UK, where he found fame after being put into a boy group with the likes of Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, and Niall Horan.
According to Hollywood Life, the singer goes on to say, "I would say, 'Do your research and be a bit more prepared about certain situations before you make a decision.' I probably wouldn't have signed - I would've waited a couple more extra years."
Zayn Malik has very much struggled with his own life in the limelight, as seen through the scandalous headlines about the 23-year-old that have surfaced in recent years.
Shocking photos showed the pop star sleeping in bed with another woman, which shattered the image of the perfect engagement with then-fiancée Perrie Edwards, caused problems in his former relationship, and of course with his group members.
One Direction always tried to stay away from scandals. Apparently, scandals couldn't help but be attracted to Zayn Malik. This was bad news for the iconic boy band One Direction, especially when you consider that their target audience is teenage girls.
Zayn Malik has been very vocal about his ongoing struggle dealing with anxiety. Since leaving One Direction, Zayn only performed at a handful of shows, with sources claiming that there won't be any tours in support of Zayn Malik's debut album, "Mind of Mine," since the "Pillowtalk" singer isn't mentally ready to engage in a grueling schedule under these circumstances.
Zayn Malik currently lives in New York with girlfriend Gigi Hadid, who he is said to have moved in with earlier this year. The couple lives a rather quiet lifestyle, and Zayn doesn't have any touring plans scheduled in the near future. However, there are rumors floating around that he's already working on his sophomore album.
