Zayn has cancelled a big arena gig in Dubai due to 'anxiety', which many believe is actually drug abuse and over reliance on cannabis and Benzos. He would face the death penalty in Dubai if he was caught with those.

Is this the end of the road for Zayn?

Harry has more charm and charisma and confidence than him, more connections too. I can't see Harry cancelling a tour date, ever. I always thought the two would compete, but it looks like Zayn will have faded away before Harry's first album is out.

I'm worried that if Zayn gets any worse, he'll end up in the 27 Club.

He's so hot, but he ain't a pop star.

Why can't it just be anxiety? I don't see any evidence that he is addicted to drugs.

Plus you don't get the death sentence in Dubai for possession.

Exactly. As far as i can remember, he's always had problems with anxiety so it's certainly very feasible that it's exactly what it means.

But then if you look at the performance of his last few singles then i'd say the bubble has already burst anyway, regardless of where he performs.

Dubai is not Saudi I highly doubt he would face the 'death penalty'

Being a solo popstar was not for him.

I think it was all far too quick. If it is to be believed that he left One Direction due to pressure and not being able to handle the fame, then what on Earth did he think would happen immediately carving out a solo career without four other guys with him to soak up the limelight?

You may be underestimating exactly how much pressure would have been put on him to pursue a solo career.

I'm definitely seeing parallels between Zayn and Robbie Williams.

I still think the album is great but he's clearly not cut out to be a solo popstar, sadly. I would imagine he has more than enough in the bank to be very comfortable without working for the rest of his life. In fact, that may be one of the reasons he doesn't seem too bothered about being a solo popstar...

It's the end for Simon with these guys. Niall's just run off and signed with Universal.

Its interesting how every one of them apart from Louis has ran a mile from Simon. Obviously they weren't as keen on him as he would like to think.

If this Hollywood thing works out for Harry I can't see him ever reuniting with One Direction.

His music is great and his voice is powerful. Hoping he gets some help with his anxiety and comes back with a vengeance next year. I used to suffer with it myself and it is absolutely crippling, I could barely go to work so God knows how scared he must be at the thought of getting up on stage and performing for thousands of people.

That's unusual because often the first one to jump from the group achieves some solo success.

His music is great. I don't think this will impact his success.

I'm not comparing him to Kate Bush, but she managed to have a very successful career despite only touring once in 1979.

Louis won't sign a soloist's contract as he has a weak voice which has deteriorated over the years due to a 40 a day habit. Zayn was interviewed by the NME and tried to prove his streer cred by smoking weed and drinking whiskey throughout the interview. Not the best move tbh.

Good on them. Syco is only interested in milking the popularity that these young teens get off the XF and then milking it dry by trapping them in one of their 1-album-per-year death deals. Then after five years or so, if they haven't been dropped like a stone, they are burnt out, depressed and anxiety-ridden and will either either fade back into obscurity or manage to escape Syco and built a decent career.

Simon probably couldn't care less about 1D as he'll be straight on to lining up the next big thing.

If it is I think it's a shame as he's got a great voice and released a great album.

All through 1D he coasted through, his anxiety able to be masked by four other guys happy to do the talking for him and I think that pressure on him by himself is too much. I hope he gets some help and is able to put on some shows.

It's also no surprise, going to the topic of Louis being Syco's last remaining member, that they've deserted Cowell. Both Five and Westlife spoke quite candidly about his management of their careers. Frankly 1D were lucking that Syco failed to launch another major success because if he had, like Westlife, Cowell would have put him in his toybox to play with the next set.

1) Anxiety exists

2) Loads of pop stars through the years have had careers while smoking weed

3) He can still record music without playing live

Not really. They had the chance to explore the market and get the best deal available. They didn't get that chance when they signed with Cowell.

He has done himself no favours in some ways

He left a band because he wanted his life back and a time to chill out
But then the following year, he found himself doing the same heavy intense schedule, only he wasn't sharing the work load with four other people. He kinda contradicted himself.

But i sympathise with him on the anxiety problem

Do you think he was left alone to recuperate when he left One Direction or do you think he was hassled from the very second he left by his agent, record companies all the other people who had an interest in his life etc etc?

There is no way in hell that Simon Cowell let Zayn break his contract and walk out in the middle of a worldwide tour - you can bet your house that this is the price Zayn paid to be able to do that.