Now three-piece boyband Take That advised the remaining four members of One Direction to phone former band mate Zayn Malik and make sure he was doing well. The trio expressed regret in a radio interview for not calling Robbie Williams after he left the group in 1995, resulting to a decade of silence.

Mark Owen, Gary Barlow and Howard Donald related their experiences of being in a boyband with 1D’s current situation in an interview with Manchester radio station Key 103. Amidst talks about their first full tour as a trio, Owen said that he hoped that the 1D foursome would call Malik to make sure he was all right, adding, “One thing that we never did when Rob left us the first time is we never [called],” as quoted by The Guardian. The boys also admitted that they hesitated to support Williams’ decision to leave the group, which then led to 10 years of not talking to each other.

Barlow added, “I think it’s sometimes easier for the band because you’re brothers, you know, you stand together, and it’s always hard for the one that leaves.” He was referring to the band’s constant lineup changes since Rob’s departure, the recent being Jason Orange, who made his exit in September last year.

Donald also said that what happened to their group went fast and that the members did not really have the chance to sit and talk things through. He believes that 1D should not have to go through the same ordeal, telling them, “Don’t wait 10 years boys.”

Last month, Malik announced his exit from One Direction, claiming that he wanted to live his life away from the spotlight like a “normal 22-year-old.” Previous reports, however, stated that he was opting for a solo career and is now working on new music with hit producer Naughty Boy, overturning his plans of normalcy.

Malik made his first public appearance post-1D at the Asian Awards in London earlier this month, wherein he thanked his former band mates in his acceptance speech, Time stated. He calls them “the best guys” he has ever met, adding that everything he had done with the four lads with stay with him for the rest of his life.

The remaining members of 1D, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, plan to continue the popular boyband as a four-piece. They are currently working on their fifth album, which is due for release later this year.

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