I wondered how long a pathetic comment like this would take. Only surprise is you didn't continue with 'try being out of work with 3 kids etc etc etc'.

Yes because you can only be stressed if you've got a proper job can't you? No wonder there is such a stigma about depression and stress with people like you about.

I'm devasted and outraged in equal amounts!!!! How can I go on living?!?! Where will he practice his Zoolander pout now???

Zayn nearly quit at boot camp as he refused to dance. He nearly buckled under the pressure then as well

Despite being way outside their key demographic, I'm not cool enough to pretend I don't read newspapers or watch TV or browse the internet to make a smart-arse lie that I don't know who this guy is or what global boy-band he's in. (I've always wondered; how do some people manage to spend so much time on a showbiz oriented website, especially the music specific part of it, yet be completely ignorant of popular music culture? Must be the people who claim they never listen to anything in the Top 40.)

My thought is, what's the legal obligation to the fans in this situation? By which I mean when a band member leaves part way through a tour, but the tour continues? People have paid handsomely to see them perform on the basis and understanding that they'll see the whole band perform. (It's telling that the band see no reason to cancel any gigs as it's 'only' Zayn; would they do that if it was Harry that had been signed off? (Get me, I know his name. Again, I'm not cool enough to pretend I've never heard of him.))

Obviously the legal position will depend on whichever country/ies the tour is currently in, and I'm assuming no-one will be au-fait with those, but what if this was the UK? Is there any legal 'comeback' from the fans, promoters etc in this sort of situation? OOH, the band is still fulfilling it's obligation to put on shows, but OTO, 1D is made up of five singers, each of which is (presumably) equally prominent, and the shows were sold and promoted on that basis.

I can't imagine that being much of an issue to be honest, especially not from the fans. As you say, One Direction are fulfilling their commitment to the shows. IIRC, Cowell's last big boyband Five had to do a leg of their tour with three members as one was ill (had actually quit but wasn't publicised, although did later come out he was suffering from depression) and the other injured his leg and I don't recall anything happening.

So the band Five, carried on with just three members ! If that's the sort of pressure Cowell puts his acts under, is it any wonder they end up stressed and depressed?

Seems I was mistaken. Started with Five. One got depression and one took a break because his girlfriend had a premature baby. The group carried on with three until one of them injured a tendon in his leg leaving them with two. At that point, they split lol.

He does work his groups hard seemingly. Probably because whilst they make a lot of money, a group as successful as 1D (and to a lesser extent Five) doesn't come along all to often for him.

Thats what I am thinking as well, the fans payed to see all five of them, not four so I think it's not fair he signed off. Stress sounds like a weak excuse to me, and I don't mean in a sense that he doesn't know what the real stress is. I mean in a sense that they are not the first boyband with a busy schedule and yet no one ever left the tour. I'm sure everyone else in the band is also stressed. It is just a weird reason.

If he will be off from 2-3 concerts, then they could have said he has a soar throat and can't perform. But if this is truly indefinite, maybe it is something bigger. Especially if none of the boys commented on Twitter "get well mate" etc. like someone mentioned.

And they live a pretty good lifestyle as reward, better than most of us can imagine no matter how hard we work in our jobs.

I'm not going to shed any tears for him.

So you are saying he shouldn't be stressed because of it?

Most tickets for any kind of event (theatre, music etc) I have ever bought have small print which says if the performance is cancelled or there is to be a significant change you can get a refund. Depends on interpretation I suppose but I cannot see it being significant enough if the other four are performing.

Millions of people in this country would say that about you. And me. And her. And that guy over there. People tend to live a lifestyle commensurate with their income, and no matter how poor you consider yourself to be, there's millions who envy you and your lifestyle. I'm not going to shed any tears either, but that's because I don't know him, not because I can't empathise.

Its easy for people to judge and assume these guys have a great life because they are making money but the abuse they receive every single day on Twitter is disgusting and that sort of thing does take its toll. Besides all that Zayn seems to be the target even more so just because he is Muslim.

Just to be clear, I was thinking mostly about the professionalism and the loyalty to the fans, not about funding. Everyone of these boys are stressed but you shouldn't leave the tour all of a sudden because of that, at the end of her day, that is your job. Like I said, it would have been better if they just stated he was ill and he can't give a 100% to the band.

According to a Wikipedia, they have a concert on 4th of April and than a longer break until 5th June. He seriously couldn't hold on for 15 days until a 2 months break?

You all talk about crazy schedule which is true, that happens when you are in a boyband. But then again, so far they just had 16 dates, tour basically just begun. And it is true that the schedule did tone down a bit compared to, say, 2 years ago. They don't have huge promo's worldwide, they only had 2 singles out etc... So I wouldn't feel so sorry for him, its not about the schedule. He probably went home because of a cheating rumors. And again, that is also unprofessional if that is true.

I was really responding more to the post that you had done rather than yours, which referred to legal obligations. My bad, and I apologise.

That said, I am not sure what explanation for his absence, true or otherwise would ever come even close to being universally acceptable. A no win situation for him, his colleagues, promoters and the fans of course, really.

To my understanding, once you say you can't sing properly, no one moans, its all "save your beautiful voice" So I think PR should have said that, no one would have created any splitting rumors or whatnot. Especially if he will be back in a few days. But I agree that it is no win situation for anyone really.

They do tend to release a single around this time of the year though which will see a video and promo. So if that happens this year, that two month break won't feel as long. The time they took before Night Changes and the tour beginning would have been rehearsals for the tour.

Ok, maybe not 2 months but it is at least a month, even if the 3rd single happens. Besides, they do not work as hard on promo anymore, especially since will be the 3rd single.

The point is, IF it is stress, he had a few concerts before 2 months of the pause between gigs kicks in. He could have endured that. Hence why I think it is something other than stress, I just don't buy it.

You could well be right, but things like stress and anxiety can take hold of people in a very horrible way. If that's what has happened, then even one more show could be an unreasonable ask of the guy.



So you know what kind of life the lad has now then?? What good is money if you don't have time to live your life, spend time with your partner etc. In many way these guys are living the dream but I'm sure there are aspects of it they hate.

The story sounded a bit farfetch'd to me when I first read it. How could anyone get stressed over some photos? However I do wonder if there's more to the story than we know. I'm in no way a 1D fan (in fact I can't stand them) but I hope he's ok.

Whatever lifestyle he gets to lead is irrelevant. There doesn't need to be point scoring here. He is under pressure like any other person doing a demanding job. But because he is young, rich and famous, apparently he should just shut up and put up with any struggles or problems he has? That's rubbish, in my opinion.

Yes they earn a lot of money but they spend most of their time on the road, living out of hotel rooms, constantly swamped by fans.

They can't just leave hotels and walk to the beach without security, they are forced to work every day of the week jetting around the world working insane hours.

I fail to see how this DOESNT cause more stress related illnesses.

Rumours over on showbiz blind gossip have been hinting at him being on the very hard stuff, H.

No interest in them but hope the guy does not end up dead because of addiction.

There are also rumours that he has taken on some aspects of the ABDL lifestyle as a coping mechanism.