Zayn Malik will leave the band One Direction for good, the band confirmed Wednesday. This comes shortly after Malik left the band's tour to deal with "stress."

Malik says he wants "to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time."

One Direction will continue touring and making music with the four remaining members: Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson, The Guardian reports.

Here is Malik's full statement about leaving One Direction:

"My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I'd like to apologise 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. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world."

There were clues that Malik could be leaving the band when he decided to leave the band's current tour to deal with "stress." Malik had been accused of cheating on his fiancee, Perrie Edwards, when he was pictured holding hands with another woman.

The four remaining members of One Direction support Malik's decision and are sending him their best wishes.

"The past five years have been beyond amazing, we've gone through so much together, so we will always be friends. The four of us will now continue. We're looking forward to recording the new album and seeing all the fans on the next stage of the world tour," One Direction said in a statement.

Simon Cowell, who discovered One Direction on the show "X Factor U.K." and also heads their label, also had supportive words for Malik:

"I would like to say thank you to Zayn for everything he has done for One Direction. Since I first met Zayn in 2010, I have grown very, very fond -- and immensely proud -- of him. I have seen him grow in confidence and I am truly sorry to see him leave. As for One Direction, fans can rest assured that Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis are hugely excited about the future of the band." 

As for fans, they took to social media to express their sadness, getting #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik and #Zayne trending worldwide.  Also trending were 0.8 Directions and Two Directions. 

One Twitter user said, "Today is the day we all dreaded #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik."  

Another called it the worst day of the band's history.

"MARCH 25TH IS THE WORST DAY IN ONE DIRECTION HISTORY!! #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik," she said.

And because the group has amassed fans all over the world, there were also plenty of messages written in other languages.

"Some fandoms have tried to support us and seriously, thanks, we truly need it #AlwaysinOurHearsZaynMalik," another fan said.