Zayn Malik reveals real reason why he left One Direction: 'We'd got sick of each other'

Zayn Malik got candid in this rare interview, and revealed the real reason why he left One Direction.

The singer was the first member of the band to leave in 2015, saying he wants “to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight.” One Direction continued releasing music and performing, but has been on hiatus since 2016. The members have since been focusing on their solo careers.

On the “Call Her Daddy” podcast and reported by The New York Times, the musician revealed that before leaving the band, the members were having difficult times.

“We’d been together every day for five years and we’d got sick of each other, if we’re being completely honest,” Zayn said. “I look back on it now in a much fonder light than I would’ve as I’d just left.”

He added, “There were great experiences, I had great times with them, but we’d just run our course.”

Zayn said he also started seeing signs that it might be time to leave, and that the others might do the same. The “Pillowtalk” singer added that he wanted to “be the first” to release solo music.

“I don’t want to go into too much detail, but there was a lot of politics going on. People were doing certain things. Some people didn’t want to sign contracts, so I knew something was happening.”

One Direction was formed on the singing competition “The X Factor UK.” Zayn, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne are the hitmakers behind “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Night Changes,” “One Thing,” and many more.

Zayn teased new music in late June. —Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News