Celebrity SHOCK on Twitter as Zayn Malik quits One Direction after five years

Zayn officially revealed this afternoon he wasn't going to be returning to the One Direction tour he left last week, and he has made the decision to leave the band.

Speaking honestly, the star said: "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."

Boy band star Aston Merrygold, whose band JLS shot to fame after appearing on the X Factor two years before Zayn, tweeted his condolences.

Aston tweeted: "Respect @zaynmalik making this hard decision! Be happy man! Massive good luck to u & the rest of @onedirection stay strong and keep grafting."

The winner of the first ever series of X Factor, Steve Brookstein, also threw his ten pence into the argument.

Taking to Twitter, the singer who's publicly struggled with his career said: "Don't worry! One Direction will still sound exactly the same. #ZaynMalik"

Former footballer Gary Lineker added: "Zayn Malik has left One Direction. Life will never be quite the same again."

And American star Mara Wilson, who played Matilda in a movie of the same name, reflected the opinion of many on the social media site this afternoon.

She said‏: "I have no opinion on Zayn Malik leaving One Direction. Sorry."

A statement Zayn's PR released this afternoon, read: "After five incredible years Zayn Malik has decided to leave One Direction.

"Niall, Harry, Liam and Louis will continue as a four-piece and look forward to the forthcoming concerts of their world tour and recording their fifth album, due to be released later this year."

Fans have descended into puddles of Twitter tears with one user comparing Zayn's girlfriend Perrie Edwards to Yoko Ono.

They said: "So Perrie is the Yoko Ono of our generation smh! Breaking up 1D like how Yoko broke up The Beatles! @LittleMix"