Zayn Malik has opened up about his exit from One Direction in his new self-titled memoir, revealing that his mother encouraged and supported his decision to quit the group if it wasn't making him happy.
'Zayn' - Out Now
Finding fame through The X Factor and as one fifth of the group alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson, Zayn left the group in March 2015, whilst they were in the midst of a world tour.
Writing in his new book, Malik explains: "I was spiralling down into a very unhappy, very unhealthy place. I needed to reconnect with my family and feel some normality again.
"Finally, it was my mum who gave me the reassurance I needed to go with my decision. She said, 'If it doesn't make you happy, just don't do it'."
The singer also revealed that whilst he enjoyed such great support from fans during his time with One Direction, he found it a 'struggle' to record music with the band.
He said: "I stuck it out because the support and all the positive responses we were getting from our fans around the world were incredible, and I respected that it was working for my band mates.
"To be honest, though, it was a struggle for me - the fact that we didn't share the same musical taste. It felt a bit like being forced into a mould I would never fit. I wanted to be in the studio singing lyrics that resonated with me, not just repeating someone else's lines."
Malik's self-titled autobiography 'Zayn' is available now.
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