LONDON — Zayn Malik says he worries that he's let One Direction fans down by leaving the world-conquering boy band, but couldn't carry on in a role that made him unhappy.
Malik quit the group this week, saying he wanted "to be a normal 22-year-old." He had earlier pulled out of One Direction's world tour, citing stress.
He told Britain's Sun newspaper Friday that "I did try to do something that I wasn't happy doing for a while" to keep fans happy.
He said he felt "like I may have let them down in some sort of way," but wanted fans to know he hadn't turned his back on them.
And he said his bandmates had been "really supportive."
The four remaining members say they will carry on as One Direction.
Zayn Malik says he worries he's let fans down by leaving 1D
Zayn Malik of One Direction gives his autograph to Japanese fans during an event for their film "One Direction: This Is Us", in Makuhari near Tokyo. AP/Koji Sasahara