Although One Direction fans were happy the boys started back on their tour in Cardiff, Wales, it seems, at least for a few, their love for Zayn Malik has waned. When Malik appeared on the band’s fragrance video prior to the concert, numerous fans reacted by hissing and booing .
MTV News reports that the band’s You & I fragrance commercial, which plays on a wide screen prior to the boys taking the stage, still shows Zayn even though he left the band earlier this year.
While some fans still cheered after seeing him on the screen, others weren’t so happy to see that Zayn was still in the commercial and proceeded to boo until the commercial went to another band member.
One Direction recently spoke out on the issue while on the red carpet at London’s Summertime Ball. It seems as if the band had no idea it happened. According to Louis Tomlinson, 23, the band didn’t hear the boos.
“It’s the first we’ve heard of it.”
Liam Payne, 21, known as the “Daddy Directioner” of the group due to his sometimes serious nature, states that he doesn’t believe at all that fans booed Zayn.
“I don’t think that’s true, if I’m honest.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq1FK9Aw0Rs
Numerous One Direction fans were upset at the jeers towards Zayn and took to Twitter to express their disappointment. Zayn, however, has yet to comment on the issue.
I think it was really childish of the fans at the concert yesterday to boo zayn on the commercial.
— ju! ? (@njhlovelysoul) June 6, 2015
how could you live with yourself knowing you’ve booed zayn malik
— ceri ?? (@cerilfc) June 5, 2015
Although it’s clearly upsetting to many fans that Zayn, who gave five years of music to the world when he was a member of the band, decided to leave, it’s not surprising to music critics. Some critics indicate that not only are boy band fans generally fickle, but as they grow older, they lose interest in the bands they once listened to and watched daily.
The loss of Zayn seems par for the course in the world of boy bands. Predecessors who left their groups early include Jon Knight from the New Kids on the Block, Robbie Williams from Take That, Jermaine Jackson from the Jackson 5, and Kevin Richardson from the Backstreet Boys.
However, it doesn’t look like the majority of One Direction fans will lose interest in their favorite guys anytime soon. The Cardiff, Wales, concert, despite the initial boos, was a massive success. Even Niall Horan, 21, the band’s only blonde, guitar-playing member, was surprised at the sheer amount of appreciation they received.
“We had a gig in Cardiff last night and it was amazing. We haven’t done a gig in a while and to then come back to that.”
Meanwhile, One Direction continues on with their On the Road Again (ONTR) tour. Their North American leg of the tour kicks off on July 9 at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium.
[Photo Courtesy of Ethan Miller/Getty Images]