(Modest Management)
The first official photo of One Direction as a foursome has debuted. The group’s management posted the picture on its website, with the recently departed Zayn Malik conspicuously absent.
According to the new bio accompanying the boy band’s portrait, “One Direction are Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan. In just over five years together they have impressively sold more than 50 million records, have achieved a total of 91 number ones and performed to over 7.5 million fans worldwide.” There’s no mention of Malik.
Malik quit One Direction last month, leaving millions of fans devastated and his former bandmates vowing to go on, better than ever. Malik later said of his decision, “It is crazy and wild and a bit mad, but at the same time I’ve never felt more in control in my life.” In an interview, Payne said the band was “gutted” by Malik’s departure.
The group has continued to perform as a quartet, amid rumors about Malik’s solo career and whether One Direction will seek to replace him. Among the false speculation was a story, exclusively busted by Gossip Cop, that Malik would present at Sunday’s MTV Movie Awards. He did not. Check out a larger version of the new photo featuring a four-member One Direction below.
(Modest Management)
