It's been a bumpy few weeks for Zayn Malik, One Direction and producer Naughty Boy. Last month, the founding 1D member announced that he would be leaving the band to be a "normal 22-year-old who is able to relax," but soon he was spotted in the recording studio with Naughty Boy (real name: Shahid Khan). Now, Khan is opening up about working with Malik and his support of the stressed pop star in a new interview.
In speaking to Heat World, Khan opened up about his relationship with Malik, who he described as a stressed young man in need of a friend. And, despite the fact that Malik was photographed outside of a recording studio, Khan insisted that didn't necessarily mean he was writing and releasing new material.
"I've been his friend. He needs one. Just because we were seen at my studio - you [don't] necessarily just make music," he said. "People seem to forget that he's under so much stress. Which is why he left the tour. There's a lot going on. People get caught up - what he has done is to be normal. Sometimes being normal is to try and sort things out with your fiancée or hang around with a friend. That is normal."
And, as for that demo "I Won't Mind," Khan dismissed it once again as a throw away track from One Direction's FOUR writing sessions.
Though that was a rumor going around shortly after the song leaked onto SoundCloud, remaining 1D member Louis Tomlinson wasn't buying it. And Khan has some choice words for Malik's former bandmate, saying that he "needlessly" provoked him on Twitter.
"There seems to be some needless provoking going on. [Louis] was deliberately adding to the provoking. I don't think that's fair. Especially on Zayn, that's not fair," Khan said. "Right now, there needs to be calm. He could have said that to me privately. Doing it openly is another act of provocation that's not needed."
