I can't @ some of the dumb people in here tbh.
Some of you who're saying that Zayn's departure was such a bad way to end this are just...
Like please, you'd have all done the same thing as him.
Have you seen their fans? 98% of them are bat **** crazy and delusional, not to mention stupid as hell.
Have you heard their albums? Almost no progress at all except for some tiny changes in their sound yes but nothing drastic.
Have you seen their image? Zayn is 22 years old and he's allowed to be a mature artist at this age, he probably felt trapped in that teenage image, any normal person would feel trapped in that image AND it IS embarrassing.
Four albums in and they didn't even do anything remotely sexual like Nsync and all the others, that's just suffocating to people who want to be true artists.
+ To those saying that 'he should've been a solo act right from the start' - he was the ONLY ONE who doubted to get into 1D though, he auditioned as a solo act (well they all did but him and Harry were the only ones with an actual chance).
Him and Harry will both have successful solo careers though.
Those childish fans will follow Zayn no matter how much they 'hated' his departure, you'll see.
Meanwhile Liam will have like 1 or 2 successful ballads probably and Niall + Louis will sink away in irrelevancy & they know it.
The Joe Jonas of the group.
