Every teenager will inevitably go through that first heartbreak, and millions of teens are crying their broken hearts out over the Internet because of an older man they have never met and who have never met them.
If there is one person who can be said properly broke the Internet, it isn’t Kim Kardashian or Taylor Swift. It’s Zayn Malik, who recently announced he was leaving One Direction to live a normal life. The youngens who were counting on him to stay and live their boyband fantasies forever are extremely devastated.
"My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined," said Malik on the band's official Facebook page. "But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I'd like to apologize to the fans if I've let anyone down."
Of course, he let millions around the world down. Ask any middle school teacher in the U.S. whose classes were interrupted when their students burst into tears as news broke and spread quickly like wildfire.
one direction was the first boyband I fell in love with. this is like my first heartbreak. I can't deal
— zayyynnn (@louisdank) March 26, 2015
I just thought One Direction would last together for many years, they just seemed to be doing so good, they seemed unstoppable. — Celina loves Zayn (@inevitablenjh) March 26, 2015
My heart has literally shattered #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik pic.twitter.com/hmOh3twA8r — Jess❤ (@IrwinftNarry_) March 26, 2015
Wasn't ready to hear you say goodbye, now you're tearing me apart. -Nobody Compares. #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik — zaynmalik1D (@neladums) March 26, 2015
crying for hours. heart is bleeding and not able to do anything. it hits every 10 minutes over and over again. #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik
— always in my ❤ zayn (@lovefancystyles) March 26, 2015
Me: *stops crying* Me: *breathes* Me: "ZAYN BREATHES" Me: *cries even more* #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik — we love you zayn x (@honestfandom) March 26, 2015
"I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight," Malik said. "I know I have four friends for life in Louis (Tomlinson), Liam (Payne), Harry (Styles), and Niall (Horan). I know they will continue to be the best band in the world."
However, a lot of fans are still wallowing in their grief and don’t share the same optimism, and some of them are willing to go to some disturbingly morbid lengths just to bring back the previously five members of One Direction.
IM WILLING TO GIVE UP MY LIFE JUST TO SEE THEM BACK TOGETHER
Some are in the throes of denial, which is understandable since it has only been a day since news broke.
I needed this little bit of hope #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik pic.twitter.com/O3g4O49glm — zaynmalik1D (@tomlinsonsqueen) March 26, 2015
ZAYN WILL BE BACK NOT SOON BUT SOMEDAY HE JUST NEEDS A BREAK. TRUST ME HE'LL BE BACK I CAN FEEL IT! #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik — we love you zayn (@NARRYXSHINE) March 26, 2015
How many members are there in 1d?" "Five" "But zayn just left-" "Five" "But.. zayn-" "FIVE" #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik” — Gonna Miss U Zayn (@_StylesBear) March 26, 2015
IM POSITIVE THAT ZAYN WILL COME BACK IN ONE DIRECTION BELIEVE IT ENOUGH FOR IT TO COME TRUE
— angela,. (@funkyharold) March 26, 2015
interviewer: "every boyband has an end right?" zayn: "not One Direction, this direction doesn't have an end" @zaynmalik NEVER FORGET THIS — zaynmalik1D (@njhxwifi) March 26, 2015
Others have progressed on to anger, the second stage in what psychologists call the Kubler-Ross model of coping with grief, because Malik did not give them a proper closure, like a proper gentleman would when properly breaking up with somebody.
The worst part is we didn't even get a proper goodbye the closest thing we got was "I'm 22 and I love a girl named perrie Edwards" — H (@carryouoverfire) March 25, 2015
FCK YOU STOP MESSING WITH ME #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik pic.twitter.com/LduYIw6yYi — WE LOVE YOU ZAYN (@iamStylesHarrys) March 26, 2015
FOR THOSE WHO SAID 1D IS BETTER WITHOUT ZAYN MALIK, I REALLY WANT TO SMASH YOUR HEAD AND GIVE IT AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR THE HOMELESS — 1[) ♋ (@1DFlyToINA) March 26, 2015
I had the most terrible dream it was that Zayn quit One Direction and all we have as an explanation is a Facebook post — ☼zaynmalik1D☼ (@undercovernarry) March 26, 2015
There are few who have gone on to bargain for Malik to rejoin the band, reaching out to people close to Malik and to anybody who would listen.
Trisha Malik you have to drag @zaynmalik out of his bed so he can smash it again like you did before #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik — Miranda Hern™ (@chanel_miranda) March 26, 2015
I hope zayn just needs a long break from all the dramas and rumors i hope he'll come back soon #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik — t | Stay strong Zayn (@starlustzjm) March 26, 2015
PETITION FOR ZAYN TO BE THE OPENING ACT FOR ONE DIRECTION FOR THE REST OF THE TOUR AND SING ALL HIS SONGS WHICH WERE'NT ADDED IN THE ALBUM
— We love you Zayn ପଓ (@NarryMcCuddly) March 26, 2015
Pretty much every single one of his fans feels this way:
Zayn leaving one direction has literal created a void space in my heart I seriously miss him so much — WE LOVE YOU ZAYN (@Louebear) March 26, 2015
Today I realised how much I took one direction for granted. Today I realised how much I loved them. I wish today wasn't the day I lost one-J — 1D Updates (@1D_Updates_WW) March 26, 2015
it hurts me deep the soul to know that you're going, but if it makes you happy .. @zaynmalik #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik — Ro ✌ (@Smash_1D) March 25, 2015
"It's crazy how someone who used to be a huge part of your life can be gone in a second" #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik pic.twitter.com/wX0JPo4sq2
— We love you Zayn ∞ (@GRUNGEDNIXLL) March 26, 2015
Some people are taking things in stride, though, and they can only wish Malik good luck as he pursues life without the fame and perhaps his fiancée, Perrie Edwards, although that isn’t so sure now as she has been reported to have left the house they shared together, with her bags and without her engagement ring.
@zaynmalik I'm going to try and stay positive as much as I can for you,I love you and will keep supporting you. Smash it my Bradford bad boy — eleri | 23 days (@gigglegrahamm) March 25, 2015
@zaynmalik i enjoyed watching u smash it i know this is for the better i hope u benefit out of this& become happier& healthier. love U lots! — ousmane /zaynmalik1D (@niazfenty) March 26, 2015
When potentially devastating news about One Direction crops up, you can be pretty sure to hear a whole lot of other stories making their way around the web, of course, without proper attribution.
I just read that 107 people committed suicide within 3 hours of Zayn leaving One Direction. Please tell me this is not true — ⚢ (@McDemi) March 26, 2015
@McDemi 175 Directioners committed suicide in Russia
Because to them, one member leaving the boy band is equivalent to that person dying, as though his entire life is defined solely by his being a member of the group.
Zayn has left one direction, all flags must be lowered to half mast. — kira. (@alIthloveharry) March 26, 2015
zayn malik, just a boy from bradford who smashed it. he will always be a huge part of our lives. (July 23, 2012 - March 24, 2015) — we love you zayn. (@17blxckharold) March 26, 2015
Of course, adults will never understand the sorrow all these girls are going through. Now that the fans have taken over Twitter and will probably continue until the next several days or so, adults have left the Internet with no plans of returning until the mobocracy dies down. There are, however, a few stragglers who managed to get their voice heard amid the bedlam.
*crawls out of hole to see of the internet is still talking about the One Direction guy…..crawls back into hole*
— Beau Bokan (@beauknows) March 26, 2015
Today is the day we all learned another member of One Direction's name. What instrument did he play? — Adam Elmakias (@elmakias) March 26, 2015
girls ringing childline over Zayn leaving one direction is the most pathetic thing I've ever heard — C o n r a d (@howyooudoin) March 26, 2015
When I mentioned One Direction during the Miriam mass, some were teary-eyed, not from what I said, but bec ZaynMalik left 1D. haha! — Fr. Jboy Gonzales SJ (@jboygonzalessj) March 26, 2015
Adults were also teenagers once, so it’s a little surprising why they can’t understand the mix of raw emotions these heartbroken teens are feeling right now. Well, only a little.
Let’s just hope these girls going through these turbulently hormonal stage in an era when they can post whatever they’re feeling on the Internet and make it seem like it’s the most earth-shattering thing in the world will eventually grow out of their obsession with boybands as the boys, no longer the boys they were, grow up into men.
Then again, maybe not.
Zayn Malik is no longer a member of One Direction, and the millions of young fans calling themselves Directioners are grieving on the Internet. Malik says he no longer wants the fame and wants to live life as a normal 22-year-old, that is, a normal 22-year-old with millions in his bank account.
