Zayn Malik, suave pop wunderkind and former 20% of a Direction, has issued a statement on Instagram regarding his decision to cancel a festival appearance in London last night.
In the text post, Malik tells fans and followers he couldn’t perform at the Capital FM Summertime Ball festival due to “the worst anxiety of my career.”
“Unfortunately my anxiety has haunted me throughout the last few months around live performances has gotten the better of me…
I cannot apologise enough but I want to be honest with everyone who has patiently waited to see me, I promise I will do my best to make this up to everybody I’ve let down today.”
After offering his apologies to concert-goers, Malik said fellow sufferers would get what he was going through; he asked those without anxiety to try and empathise with his situation.
Avid Directioners and, well, everyone alive with a working Twitter account, will probably recall the last few months before Malik peaced out of the world-beating boy band due to mental exhaustion.
He’s not the only young pop uberstar to recently shut down their public appearances for mental health reasons, either.
While the whole “no partial refunds” thing was cause for complaint, the fact one of the most frequently harangued blokes on the planet wanted some time out is… understandable, really.
Malik was slated as one of the leading artists at the event, which also boasted Ariana Grande, Craig David and Nick Jonas, among others.
Get well soon, dude.
Photo: Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / Getty / Zayn Malik / Instagram.
If you’re experiencing anxiety or depression, you can give one of these guys a buzz: Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14. If you’d like to learn more about mental illness and how to seek help, visit Beyond Blue, Black Dog Institute, or Headspace.
