Zayn Malik announced Wednesday the "real" reason he left One Direction four months ago. The British singer has made things official as a solo artist after he Tweeted a picture of himself signing what appears to be a contract with RCA records, according to MTV.
"I guess I never explained why I left, it was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who I really am!" he wrote. "#REALME," Malik tweeted later to his 15.1 million followers.
I guess I never explained why I left , it was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who i really am! #realmusic #RCA !!
— zaynmalik (@zaynmalik) July 29, 2015
pic.twitter.com/8AnmCLdU8Z — zaynmalik (@zaynmalik) July 29, 2015
— zaynmalik (@zaynmalik) July 29, 2015
The announcement comes following news reports stating that the former One Directioner has reportedly signed with Iggy Azalea's management company Turn First Artists, as HNGN previously reported.
Simon Cowell also took to social media to congratulate Malik on his big solo move. "We have been working on this for a while and I am pleased to say congratulations to @Zaynmalik on signing with @RCARecords. I believe they are the perfect label for @ZaynMalik's solo career and I am sure whatever they release together will be special," he Tweeted, according to Entertainment Weekly.
We have been working on this for a while and I am pleased to say congratulations to @Zaynmalik on signing with @RCARecords
— Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) July 29, 2015
I believe they are the perfect label for @ZaynMalik’s solo career and I am sure whatever they release together will be special. — Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) July 29, 2015
Other artists that have signed with RCA Records include Alicia Keys, Britney Spears, Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera, Hilary Duff, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Kesha, and Miley Cyrus, according to US Weekly.