Nick Jonas Totally Gets Zayn Malik's Decision to Leave One Direction: It Was ''Time to Close a Chapter''

Nick Jonas Totally Gets Zayn Malik's Decision to Leave One Direction: It Was ''Time to Close a Chapter''

As a member of a group turned solo artist, Nick Jonas gets what Zayn Malik is going through. "It's always tough," the "Jealous" singer told E! News at the 2015 Kids' Choice
Awards press day Thursday when asked about Zayn's decision to leave One Direction after five years of mega-success. "You know, there's never an easy time to make a decision like that. I commend him for doing what he feels is right for him and you got to stay true to yourself." Nick, of course, went through a high-profile split himself--and with his own flesh and blood, no less!--when the Jonas Brothers went their separate artistic ways back in October 2013. Joe and Kevin by his side, Nick told Good Morning America's Robin Roberts at the time: "In a nutshell, I said, 'Look, I feel like we've had some complications within the group for a long time without
addressing them. I think this train will fall off the tracks without really getting real about some of the concerns and some of the limitations that we may feel as individuals in the group.' It was a tough conversation...It was the first time we really had that real conversation. It was a few days of working
through it." One Direction, of course, has vowed to carry on (for now, anyway) without Zayn, but the 22-year-old's official statement reflected the fact that his own exit had been a work in progress for a while. "My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined," he stated Wednesday. "But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I'd like to apologize to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart. I
am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight." While Nick didn't leave his band to take a step back from the spotlight, he presumably agonized over his own choice to initiate the breakup talk at the time. "I feel for the One Direction fans and I hope they're doing OK," he told E! News today, "but you know, it's one of those things, that sometimes it's just time to close a chapter." And you never know what sort of chapters will be written next! Next up for Nick: hosting the 2015 Kids' Choice Awards this Saturday.

Zayn Malik's One Direction Exit Was a Long Time Coming: Inside His Decision--and What's Next for Him!

Zayn Malik's One Direction Exit Was a Long Time Coming: Inside His Decision--and What's Next for Him!

Fans of a five-member One Direction may be mired in sadness, but it sounds as though today marked the beginning of Zayn Malik's return to happiness. And though Zayn's
announcement that he is leaving the Simon Cowell-fashioned boy band after a mindblowingly successful five-year run may
have come as a shock to many, it apparently surprised no one close to the 22-year-old from West Yorkshire. A source tells E! News that Zayn just hasn't been that happy lately and his
decision was a long time coming. We had previously heard that he struggled with the 24/7-caliber fame that came with his role as a member of one of the biggest pop acts ever
and--sure enough--the pressure ultimately got to be too much. The only engaged member of One Direction, Zayn prematurely left the Asian leg of their tour last week, jetting back to England on the heels of tabloid specuation that he was stepping out on fiancée Perrie Edwards. We've been told that the couple have been physically together pretty much ever since he returned home. Our source adds, Zayn is so grateful for the time he had with mates Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, and his statement
reflected his true feelings. They're all still friends and will remain close, the insider notes. Moreover, the guys respect his decision. They're said to be devastated but understand that Zayn had to do what was right for him at this time. So, what's next for Zayn? At the moment it looks like the plan is for him to take a break and recuperate for a bit, the source says. He's a great musician and is contemplating going back into the studio to work on some solo projects. He loves music
and doesn't want to give it up, but he wants his future to be more low-key. He loves his fans and doesn't want to let them down, and he loved performing, too. But being in the band just got to be too much. Our source wasn't exactly sure when Zayn finalized his decision, but this wasn't the first the rest of 1D had heard about it. They had talked amongst themselves about the possibility of Zayn leaving before, and were going to discuss it again at the end of the tour--but something
obviously caused Zayn to pull the plug ASAP.