Simon Cowell Opens Up: Talks Zayn Malik's One Direction Exit, Rumored Row With Naughty Boy And 1D's Future

Simon Cowell gave his first ever on-camera take on Zayn Malik’s decision to leave famous boy band 1D, the rumored 1D row with Naughty Boy and the band’s future. The TV personality admits to U.K. outlet Sugarscape while at an event celebrating the upcoming ninth season of “Britain’s Got Talent” that Malik needs to get a clear head about things after leaving the group.

Cowell says Malik is a fantastic singer, adding that the former 1D member needs to “get his head together a little bit.” As quoted by Billboard, Cowell says, "He needs some time on his own, as he said, to be a normal 22-year-old, which he's gonna have."

The 55-year-old, who signed the group to his record label Syco Music after they placed third in “The X Factor” back in 2010, also admitted that he did not expect the band to lose member just five years after 1D was formed. However, he continues to have high hopes for the remaining four members Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne. He has always told the boys that the band would continue to be successful as long as they want it, which he believed they do. “They're just too good for everything to stop now,” Cowell gushed.

Cowell also shed light to the circulating rumors about the foursome severing ties with Malik after Tomlinson’s misunderstanding with producer Naughty Boy, with whom Malik has been rumored to be working with. Tomlinson and Naughty Boy supposedly had a Twitter row when the latter was accused of “winding up” 1D fans, after the producer retweeted a video from a fan that Malik was saved from “being in a boy band” when the collaboration “Zaughty” was made.

Cowell insisted that what happened was only “a little spat” and that people got “a bit emotional” about the whole ordeal. He further said, "The only thing that matters is that the boys are happy, everyone is in a different place at the moment,” Mirror quoted.

The remaining 1D members, still determined to continue their work, recent gave their first interview and posted their official photos as a foursome. According to E! News, the group is on a scheduled hiatus from their current “On the Road Again” tour, whose official videos now do not include Malik. They are expected to resume on June and are also excited to work on their fifth album.

Meanwhile, Malik, who announced his exit from the boy band a week after unexpectedly signing off from the Asian leg of their tour due to stress, has not responded to Cowell’s comments. Moreover, rumors of him embarking on a solo career have remained unconfirmed, despite being known to be working on new music with Naughty Boy.

Watch Simon Cowell’s interview with Sugarscape here: