Zayn Malik has done the unthinkable and walked away from One Direction for good, just days after leaving the boys on the band’s world tour to return home to the UK.

The 22-year-old admitted his time with 1D was more than he could’ve ever imagined but was saying his goodbyes to follow his heart and lead a “normal life” outside of the limelight.

The heartbreaking revelation has not been well-received – Directioners across the world are drowning themselves in floods of tears, contemplating the meaning of life and questioning the bleak future of the world’s favourite boyband…

Meanwhile, some reacted to the news with hope that they might be able to fill Zayn’s place in the line-up.