We've heard from everyone about Zayn Malik quitting One Direction, but what does the group's former X Factor mentor and current manager Simon Cowell have to say about it all? In short, it's all good.

In a new interview with the U.K. publication Sugarscape, Cowell opened up about Malik's shocking March departure from 1D, saying that now that the shock of it all has worn off, he understands why he left and that the rest of the One Direction boys have accepted it and moved on.

"He's a fantastic singer. He's got to get his head together a little bit. He needs some time on his own, as he said, to be a normal 22-year-old which he's going to have," Cowell said about Malik before addressing the future of One Direction.

"I've always said to all of them, 'The future's bright for all of you depending on what you want to do.' We've always hoped that One Direction would stay together for a long time and my hunch is it still will. They're just too good for everything to stop now."

And despite what seem like public tiffs between Louis Tomlinson and Malik's friend/possible new producer Naughty Boy, Cowell insists that the boys are all still friends (and couldn't have been in a group for five years together if they weren't) and that One Direction is ready for the next part of their career.

"They were surprised and shocked, but now they've got over it. Well not got over it, got used to it. They've been professional and they're respecting the fans who've turned up to see a great show and that's what they're doing," Cowell said.

Watch the full interview below:

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