Media mogul Simon Cowell opened up for the first time since Zayn Malik announced his split from One Direction, reported Us Weekly. Cowell signed the boy band in 2010 after the seventh season of the British music competition show "X Factor," and he dished the details behind the band's temporary hiatus since Malik's departure in an interview with the Daily Mail's Event magazine.
Cowell served as a mentor and manager to Malik and his former bandmates (Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Niall Horan), and the 56-year-old former "American Idol" judge said he's completely supportive of the group's decision to go on hiatus.
"The way I look at it with One Direction is that we've had five fantastic years and they're totally exhausted," Cowell told Event. "They need time out, but they will all be fine and, if they want to come back, they will. If not, they're all going to be OK."
The "X Factor" judge revealed that the band had not been on contract with him since 2013, and he explained that their relationship is more than business. He said he felt a responsibility to them since they are in their 20s and needed help navigating the negative side of the music business, and cited the dark side of being in a band as what pushed Malik to part ways with the group.
"I knew Zayn was going before it happened. He was unhappy. My concern was actually for the boys," Cowell told Event. "Zayn wasn't in a great place, but it was his decision to leave, he wasn't kicked out. And then he wanted to distance himself."
Since leaving One Direction, Malik has signed a deal with RCA Records and is working on his solo debut, as previously reported by HNGN.
