While Perrie Edwards seems to have forgiven Zayn Malik’s recent behaviour, it looks like he’s about to run into a whole load more drama after recording with producer Naughty Boy. After Naughty Boy tweeted a link to a Soundcloud recording called I Won’t Mind featuring Zayn last week (actually an old track, recorded for 1D’s Four album), Zayn’s ex-bandmate Louis Tomlinson hit out at him on Twitter, saying, “You’re so inconsiderate pal, seriously how f**king old are you? Grow up!”
Naughty Boy (real name Shahid Khan), who’s also one of Zayn’s best friends, tells heat that he wasn’t trying to upset anyone.
“There seems to be some needless provoking going on. [Louis] was deliberately adding to the provoking. I don’t think that’s fair. Especially on Zayn, that’s not fair. Right now, there needs to be calm. He could have said that to me privately. Doing it openly is another act of provocation that’s not needed.”
He pointed out that Zayn had been under a lot of pressure, and defended Zayn going into the studio despite leaving the band to be “normal”.
“I’ve been his friend. He needs one. Just because we were seen at my studio – you [don’t] necessarily just make music. People seem to forget that he’s under so much stress. Which is why he left the tour. There’s a lot going on. People get caught up – what he has done is to be normal. Sometimes being normal is to try and sort things out with your fiancée or hang around with a friend. That is normal.”
Read the full story in this week’s heat magazine – OUT NOW!
Zayn leaves 1D - here's how it happened
Zayn Malik quits One Direction - here's how it happened
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Zayn is spotted with a "mystery" blonde girl who ISN'T his fiancee Perrie Edwards while on tour in Thailand and Twitter goes into meltdown
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The "mystery blonde" is identified as Lauren Richardson from Essex, and things look cosy - though her mum insists she was "just posing for a snap" with Zayn
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As Twitter goes into meltdown over the photos, Zayn tweets: "I'm 22 years old... I love a girl named Perrie Edwards. And there's a lot of jealous f***s in this world I'm sorry for what it looks like x"
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Zayn then sensationally QUITS the One Direction tour. His publicist Simon Jones says: "Zayn has been signed off with stress and is flying back to the U.K. to recuperate."
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Perrie Edwards is seen leaving her house with an overnight bag hours after Zayn flies back into the UK - but she's still wearing her engagement ring
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Zayn's sister Waliyha, 16, urges fans to "pray" for her brother. “Don't worry guys, Zayn is going to be okay very soon,” she wrote. “All the stress has just gotten to him because of the rumours and hatred he has heard and received."
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Liam Payne infuriates fans by tweeting a photo of the band with "missing" Zayn...
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Zayn quits the band on 25 March. A statement reads: "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 in my heart."
And a million Directioners' hearts break.