--- title: One Direction Member Says Band Is ‘Far From Over’ description: After departure of Zayn Malik. canonical: https://time.com/3760895/one-direction-zayn-malik-liam-payne/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-03-26T22:17:19.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:04:50.506Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: One Direction Member Says Band Is 'Far From Over' og:description: After departure of Zayn Malik. og:url: https://time.com/3760895/one-direction-zayn-malik-liam-payne/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4b02e3bf9943df83/6987858506f2c1d6a2334a11/liam-payne-zayn-malik.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Liam Payne and Zayn Malik of One Direction attend The BRIT Awards 2014 at the 02 Arena on Feb. 19, 2014 in London. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: One Direction Member Says Band Is 'Far From Over' twitter:description: After departure of Zayn Malik. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4b02e3bf9943df83/6987858506f2c1d6a2334a11/liam-payne-zayn-malik.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # One Direction Member Says Band Is 'Far From Over' by [Amanda Michelle Steiner / People](https://time.com/author/people/) ## Amanda Michelle Steiner / People Mar 26, 2015 10:17 PM UTC  Liam Payne and Zayn Malik of One Direction attend The BRIT Awards 2014 at the 02 Arena in London on Feb. 19, 2014. Liam Payne and Zayn Malik of One Direction attend The BRIT Awards 2014 at the 02 Arena in London on Feb. 19, 2014.David M. Benett—Getty Images by [Amanda Michelle Steiner / People](https://time.com/author/people/) ## Amanda Michelle Steiner / People Mar 26, 2015 10:17 PM UTC Following the announcement of [Zayn Malik](http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,personsTax:LiamPayne,00.html)‘s [departure from the band](http://www.people.com/article/zayn-malik-quits-one-direction) on Wednesday, each of the members of [One Direction](http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,EntPeopleTax:OneDirection,00.html) spoke out on Twitter to express their love for their fans without directly addressing what had happened. Enter [Liam Payne](http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,personsTax:LiamPayne,00.html). In an emotional message, he is the first of the boys to directly address [Malik’s departure himself](http://www.people.com/article/zayn-malik-one-direction-cant-handle-fame-pressure), asking that fans keep their faith as the band moves forward as a four-piece. “In light of recent events I think this is important to say,” he [Tweeted](https://twitter.com/Real%5FLiam%5FPayne/status/581159178204520448). “For the past five years now I’ve been a part of something so special I don’t think any of us really understand, something that can mean the world to people and put a smile on the face of our fans even in the darkest times. “To a lot of people it’s just a bunch of silly kids in a band but to the people involved it means so much more,” he continued, writing that this past week has been “possibly the worst” ever for the band. “It’s something we are all deeply saddened by. “It’s sad to think for the time being we won’t grace the stage as five bros or have the same fun on a tour bus or laughs in a hotel together that we have over the years,” read Payne’s [Twitlonger](http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n%5F1sldota), “but I’m super sure us and Zayn will always remain the closest friends.” ### See One Direction Throughout the Years  Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Zain Malik of One Direction perform at the BBC Teen Awards at Wembley arena in London, England in 2011. Dave Hogan—Getty Images  One Direction perform at the BBC Teen Awards at Wembley arena in London, England in 2011. Dave Hogan—Getty Images  One Direction perform at the BBC Teen Awards at Wembley arena in London, United Kingdom in 2011. Dave Hogan—Getty Images  One Direction perform at the BBC Teen Awards at Wembley arena in London, United Kingdom in 2011. Dave Hogan—Getty Images  Zayn Malik of One Direction performs at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center in Los Angeles, Calif. in 2012. Christopher Polk—KCA2012/Getty Images  Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik of One Direction perform at HMV Hammersmith Apollo in London, England in 2012. Joseph Okpako—FilmMagic/Getty Images  Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Harry Styles of One Direction pose during a portrait shoot at Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia in 2012. Sam Ruttyn—Newspix/Getty Images  Zayn Malik of One Direction performs on NBC's Today at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City in 2012. Slaven Vlasic—Getty Images  One Direction performs onstage during Z100's Jingle Ball 2012 at Madison Square Garden on in New York City in 2012. Kevin Kane—Getty Images for Jingle Ball 201  One Direction speaks onstage during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2013. Theo Wargo—WireImage/Getty Images  One Direction performs onstage during the 2013 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, Calif. in 2013. Christopher Polk—AMA2013/Getty Images  One Direction performs at the stage during their presentation as part of the tour "Where We Are Tour" at Velez Sarsfield Stadium on May 03, 2014 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cesar Quiroga—LatinContent/Getty Images  Guitarist Dan Richards and Niall Horan of One Direction perform onstage during the "Where We Are" tour at Met Life Stadium on Aug. 4, 2014 in New York City. Kevin Mazur—OneD/Getty Images  Zayn Malik of One Direction performs onstage during the "Where We Are" tour at Met Life Stadium on Aug. 4, 2014 in New York City. Kevin Mazur—OneD/Getty Images  Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Harry Styles on the One Direction TV special in 2014. Jeff Daly—NBC/Getty Images  Niall Horan of One Direction performs onstage during the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 20, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV. Denise Truscello—WireImage/Getty Images  Niall Horan of One Direction performs onstage during the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 20, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV. Christopher Polk—Getty Images  Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan of One Direction perform onstage during the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 20, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV. Kevin Mazur—WireImage/Getty Images  Niall Horan of One Direction appears on NBC's Today Show to release their new album "Four" at Universal City Walk At Universal Orlando on Nov. 17, 2014 in Orlando, Fla. John Parra—WireImage/Getty Images  Amy Adams and One Direction members Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan appear on Saturday Night Live on Dec. 18, 2014. Dana Edelson—NBC/Getty Images  Harry Styles performs on Saturday Night Live on Dec. 18, 2014. Dana Edelson—NBC/Getty Images  Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan of One Direction perform on Saturday Night Live on Dec. 18, 2014. Dana Edelson—NBC/Getty Images Payne, 21, went on to assure fans that One Direction is “far from over. When we first became successful we all agreed that One Direction had become much bigger than each individual member,” he said. “That’s why I feel like right now it’s okay to be sad and upset but I do ask everyone who is a fan of us to please keep your faith in us. I’m sure there’s a lot more to come,” he finished, signing off with “love.” > [](https://twitter.com/Real%5FLiam%5FPayne/status/581159178204520448) [Harry Styles](http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,personsTax:HarryStyles,00.html), 21, was the first to speak on social media following the announcement that Malik had left One Direction, with [a simple](https://twitter.com/Harry%5FStyles/status/580932146874957824) “All the love as always. H.” > [](https://twitter.com/Harry%5FStyles/status/580932146874957824) Payne’s first response had been to [Tweet](https://twitter.com/Real%5FLiam%5FPayne/status/580958052595163136) how glad he was to be in bed “after a long and strange 24 hours.” > [](https://twitter.com/Real%5FLiam%5FPayne/status/580958052595163136) [Louis Tomlinson](http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,personsTax:LouisTomlinson,00.html), 23, who was closest to Malik and “the most worried,” [as a source previously revealed to PEOPLE](http://www.people.com/article/zayn-malik-one-direction-bandmates-louis-tomlinson-worried-quit-tour), [Tweeted](https://twitter.com/Louis%5FTomlinson/status/581044826876944384), like Payne, that the last couple of days had been “crazy,” adding, “Know that we are going to work harder than ever to deliver the best album we’ve ever made for you guys! Your support has been incredible,” [he wrote](https://twitter.com/Louis%5FTomlinson/status/581044974348713984). “Truly incredible, so thank you so much!” > [](https://twitter.com/Louis%5FTomlinson/status/581044826876944384) > [](https://twitter.com/Louis%5FTomlinson/status/581044974348713984) For his part, 21-year-old [Niall Horan](http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,personsTax:NiallHoran,00.html)‘s [Tweets](https://twitter.com/NiallOfficial/status/581070293231411200) echoed those of his bandmates, writing that the past few days had been “mad” but that the fans’ support has been “incredible as per usual,” which [has spurred](https://twitter.com/NiallOfficial/status/581070293231411200) the band into making “the best music we possibly can.” > [](https://twitter.com/NiallOfficial/status/581070083876892672) > [](https://twitter.com/NiallOfficial/status/581070293231411200) Payne wrote his emotional missive after trying to lighten the mood, [as he did](https://instagram.com/p/0austHA1T6/?taken-by=fakeliampayne)following the news that Malik had decided to [leave the tour](http://www.people.com/article/one-direction-zayn-malik-quits-tour-louis-tomlinson-weed-bond-philippines). “Right, time to brighten things up. Here’s a throwback to one of my many embarrassing moments,” he [Tweeted](https://twitter.com/Real%5FLiam%5FPayne/status/581123802416943104) Thursday. “Great shorts, pal!” > [](https://twitter.com/Real%5FLiam%5FPayne/status/581123802416943104) “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 wrote in a statement on [his decision to leave](http://www.people.com/article/zayn-malik-quit-one-direction-stress-cheating-sister-defends). “I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall,” he said. “I know they will continue to be the best band in the world.” [_This article originally appeared on People.com_](http://www.people.com/article/liam-payne-zayn-malik-leaving-one-direction-not-over-tweet) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3760895/one-direction-zayn-malik-liam-payne/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3760895/one-direction-zayn-malik-liam-payne/"},"headline":"One Direction Member Says Band Is 'Far From Over'","datePublished":"2015-03-26T22:17:19.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:04:50.506Z","description":"After departure of Zayn Malik","url":"https://time.com/3760895/one-direction-zayn-malik-liam-payne/","keywords":["Music"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4b02e3bf9943df83/6987858506f2c1d6a2334a11/liam-payne-zayn-malik.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amanda Michelle Steiner / People"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4b02e3bf9943df83/6987858506f2c1d6a2334a11/liam-payne-zayn-malik.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Liam Payne and Zayn Malik of One Direction attend The BRIT Awards 2014 at the 02 Arena on Feb. 19, 2014 in London.","caption":"Liam Payne and Zayn Malik of One Direction attend The BRIT Awards 2014 at the 02 Arena on Feb. 19, 2014 in London.","creditText":"David M. 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