article_snippet: Malik is leaving One Direction.
article_snippet: After five incredible years Malik has decided to leave One Direction," the band said on the band Facebook page and tweeted out to the band 22.9 million Twitter followers.
article_snippet: Rumors about such a move had started since Malik left the band's tour last week.
article_snippet: At the time, a rep told Rolling Stone a rep had "been signed off with stress" after a scandal erupted following the publication of a photo showing Malik holding hands with someone other than Malik fiancee.
article_snippet: its Facebook page was also quickly updated with a sentence, "Zayn Malik was formerly a member.
article_snippet: Malik, 22, has been part of the very popular British boy band since it was formed (at the urging of Simon Cowell, according to some stories) in 2010 after members auditioned separately for the UK version of "The X Factor.
highlights_snippet: Malik had left the band's tour last week, citing "stress