Zayn Malik announced that he is off to make "real music" as he signed a solo record contract, months after leaving One Direction.
The singer made a shock departure from the band earlier this year to go and be a "normal 22-year-old", leaving hordes of devastated fans in his wake. Speculation about solo projects followed and on Wednesday night Malik released a picture of him signing his new contract with RCA, joining the likes of Alicia Keys, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake and Kelly Clarkson who are already signed to the label.
In a separate tweet, Malik wrote: "I guess I never explained why I left, it was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who i really am! #realmusic #RCA !!" To make his point even clearer, he then tweeted “#REALMUSIC”.
; zaynmalik (@zaynmalik) July 29, 2015
I guess I never explained why I left , it was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who i really am! #realmusic #RCA !!
; zaynmalik (@zaynmalik) July 29, 2015
; zaynmalik (@zaynmalik) July 29, 2015
The news left some One Directioners feeling they had been lied to, while others were not impressed by his "real music" dig. Unsurprisingly, the angry backlash soon grew on Twitter.
When you go through all the tweets about Zayn and try to act like your fine but your not #realmusic pic.twitter.com/zekq8WdjHE
; katelyn (@lukeftlarryy) July 30, 2015
@zaynmalik YO PAL IM HAPPY FOR YOU BUT WHATCHA MEAN REAL MYSIC IS U TRYNA SHADE 1D1D1D1D1D
; k,,! (@foolshorxn) July 29, 2015
I'm open-minded but you can't deny the fact he lied to us. It would be better if he properly said the real reason. #realmusic
; kornik (@hopeful_2014) July 30, 2015
I guess good luck to you @zaynmalik. If you're happy, then go for it. But what bugs me is that you lied. 'Normal 22-year old'? '#realmusic ?
; Hana (@hanxtal) July 30, 2015
WHY would he say #realmusic ?! Is he serious?!
; Cassandra Taylor (@cassandita) July 30, 2015
@zaynmalik the #realmusic thing is fucking insulting and you can't persuade me otherwise. Go make your music, but don't insult ours.
; Meghan Alexander (@TaylorBlecch) July 30, 2015
Simon Cowell, who manages One Direction on his Syco label, congratulated Malik on his new deal, tweeting: "We have been working on this for a while and I am pleased to say congratulations to Zayn Malik on signing with RCARecords. In pictures: Zayn Malik
"I believe they are the perfect label for Zayn Malik's solo career and I am sure whatever they release together will be special."
