Zayn quits One Direction: Fans react in the strangest ways to distressing news that five becomes four

THIS afternoon Zayn Malik quit One Direction, after his pop superstardom was getting in the way of him being a normal 22-year-old.

FANS around the world are in shock having found out that Zayn Malik has quit One Direction. The singer announced he would be leaving the band today, as Niall, Harry, Liam and Louis continue as a four-piece

Malik previously pulled out from One Direction’s world tour, but fans didn't realise that it would be the end of the five-piece for good.

Malik made his leaving statement, saying: "My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band.

"I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right."

The internationally famous boy band, who started out on The X-Factor, are known for having hardcore fans who call themselves ‘directioners’, and they were none too pleased at the news. It is safe to say that they are some of the most dramatically dedicated fans in the world, and their tweets in response to the news were, let’s just say, intense.

Take a look at some of our fan favourites:

25.03.2015 Zayn Malik left 1D 1D are broken 1D Fandom is broken There is no more 1D It's just the end.

— IJustCan'tLetHimGo (@_ordinhxrry) March 25, 2015

@zaynmalik what about us? what about everything we've been through????

— zaynmalik1D (@malikyourface_) March 25, 2015

Zayn Malik has left One Direction. Nobody talk to me today and I'm dead serious.

— Savannahॐ (@savannahelyss) March 25, 2015

You can't leave without a goodbye @zaynmalik we deserve more than that

— ☾ (@_flawlxss) March 25, 2015

@zaynmalik WHY R YA DOIN THIS TO ME?? U WERE THE REASON FOR MY SMILE NOW U'R THE REASON WHY I'M CRYIN HARD :'( #IAmHalfAHeartWithoutZayn

— #ComeBackZayn (@lovezaynjawadd) March 25, 2015

Zayn, only half a blue sky, kind of there but not quite, I'm walking around with just one shoe..It's not 1D without you..

— we love you zayn (@5tharry) March 25, 2015

ZAYN LEAVING ONE DIRECTION IS LITERALLY LIKE RIPPING MY HEART OUT OF MY CHEST

— no (@drugdelrey) March 25, 2015

I thought I'd be 40 when my kids would find me crying because one direction was over but here I am 17 years old crying with my dog

— thank you zayn (@cliffordsfool) March 25, 2015

im eating a banana and crying tears into my banana hoping my tears will magically transform the banana into zayn malik wbu

— shane (@irishbabenixll) March 25, 2015

STOPPPPP DONT DO THIS @zaynmalik

— Brennen Taylor (@BrennenCTaylor) March 25, 2015

It wasn't just the fans taking to twitter to have their say, celebrities were getting in on Zayne-gate too. Yes, we just said 'Zaynegate'.

Clarkson sacked. Zayn out of 1D. Why does everything I love have to die?

— Rufus Hound (@RufusHound) March 25, 2015

This is nearly as dark a day as when Blue went on hiatus.

— Jack Whitehall (@jackwhitehall) March 25, 2015

I go to the dentists for 30 minutes, and when I get out ZAYN HAS LEFT ONE DIRECTION?! *sobs uncontrollably*

— Matt Edmondson (@MattEdmondson) March 25, 2015