At the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night (May 17), One Direction's Liam Payne was the band member to thank recently departed member Zayn Malik as the "Night Changes" group accepted its award for top duo/group, and now the remaining 1D singer continues to speak out and support Malik. He also explained the reason why he left the band... and it seems to come down to his family and fiancée Perrie Edwards of Little Mix.
In a new interview with Capital FM, Payne opened up about the band's current relationship with Malik. Though Louis Tomlinson formerly feuded with his former bandmate on Twitter, Payne insists that everything is "great" between the five current and former members of 1D.
"It's fine, really. We're just going to carry on and keep doing what we're doing. We're all still great mates," Payne said. "I know it's difficult for other people to see or whatever, but we're still great mates. We wish him the best wherever he goes."
After Malik announced his departure, speculation was high that Malik left the band because he was unhappy with being a boy band member and wanted to repair his relationship with fiancée Perrie Edwards amid cheating rumors. And, Payne seems to have confirmed at least most of that.
"It's like any other job really, sometimes you have to move on because you're not enjoying what you're doing as much as you used to. He wanted to go and spend some time with his family and missus," he said. "We're just going to carry on doing what we're doing and keep flying that flag."
One Direction is currently working on its new album.
