Zayn Malik - a case of misdirection
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Zayn Malik - a case of misdirection

Updated | By Jason

Weighing in on the One Direction situation...

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Jason's thoughts on the issue:

I woke up the other day to the news that Zayn Malik - one of the members of One Direction was leaving the band.

No wait, let me put that a different way. I woke up to the trending and mass hysteria that was the world reacting to the news that a 20 something singer had resigned from his place in super star band formed by a chap on a show called X Factor.

Now, I get the idea that it is shocking to many teeny boppers - for those of you who have always been into music - you will remember the drama around the death of Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse and perhaps even Jimi Hendrix. Sad times. I get it, I really do.

But what I don't get is how ridiculously and unashamedly people who, for a long while I regarded as of logic and sound mind, have reacted to the news...

 

 

This also goes for some websites that I have frequented over the years… One website said something along the lines of “Take a moment to remember the man known as Zayn” or something along those lines… I mean let’s just hold on a second. He isn’t dead, he is retiring from the limelight. (Which will never happen, not at that level I am afraid).

My guess is a few years of low key living and he will be back – in a very Justin Timberlake way – doing his thing all solo and full to the brim with new ideas, breaking away from the boy band mould which he owes every single cent to.

Let us just remember that although we are very much entitled to remember and mourn and prioritize our anguish and sadness in whatever way we please, we have the responsibility as creatures at the top of the food chain – to behave as such. We have this incredible ability to use logic, and we have created things like Facebook and the internal combustion engine, but here some of us sit, crying, devastated that the band has gone from five, to four.

 

And it gets worse – the whole #cutsforzayn thing… Now I have not seen any images of people cutting themselves - but it did trend ( both for the actual idea and the aggressive mockery of the idea) – and NME did say that MIND – the UK mental Health Charity have issued a statement of support to fans, just in case.

An example of the #cutforzayn tweets:

 

 

 

 

There are comparisons ( justified I think) with One Direction and The Beatles – and we know how fans acted when Beatlemania struck – but I also remember that in those days – smoking was seen as healthy ( and even recommended by doctors), and drugs were the norm. (Hello Studio 54).

So what is my point? Be sad, yes, be angry, yes. Be disappointed that you favourite hair gelled wonder kids are not the same – but take a moment to realise for a second how you are reacting, and if it is in fact a show of genuine emotion, or one to gain reaction. I say this because most of the reactions have come from online sources.

 

Some of the tweets that I just can't see as being logical:

I will never forgive websites for publishing headlines such as “5 WAYS TO COPE WITHOUT 1/5 OF YOUR HEART.”

I guess Russell Peters summed it up best :  “Zayn was an important member of One Direction, he was the one that wouldn't dance. It must be really painful [for the fans], I feel sorry for them.”

Yeah, he must be devastated.

I was going to go on about how people can go overboard with sad tweets and mentions about Zayn but not even mention the plane that crashed killing dozens of people, but as I said before, we prioritize our own things and our struggles and sadness is relevant to our own situations, so I won't...

Anyway – before you rush out to say that I am insensitive – I agree, the band was ( and still is) pretty good at what they do. But tomorrow will come and I amsure something just as bubble gummy in nature will captivate the attention of those who so desperately need young Zayn in their lives.

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