Simon Cowell brands Zayn Malik 'rude' for criticising One Direction

The X Factor head judge hit out at Malik for his negative comments towards the boy band
Hitting back: Simon Cowell did not agree with Zayn Malik's One Direction criticism
Ian West / PA
Emma Powell21 December 2015
The Weekender

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Simon Cowell has branded Zayn Malik rude for the comments he made following his split from One Direction.

Malik, 22, shot to fame as one fifth of the X Factor group, but criticised the band's music saying he would never play it on a date.

Speaking to Fader about his burgeoning solo career he said of One Direction: “Would you listen to One Direction, sat at a party with your girl? I wouldn’t. To me, that’s not an insult, that’s me as a 22-year-old man.

"As much as I was in that band, and I loved everything that we did, that’s not music that I would listen to. I don’t think that’s an offensive statement to make."

One Direction's Zayn Malik - In pictures

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But Cowell has hit back at the negative remarks, telling the Daily Mirror: "It is a bit rude to the people who wrote all the hits with them. And to the other band members. I mean they all wrote a lot of the stuff."

Malik devastated fans when he announced his departure from the world famous boy band, citing a need to be a "normal 22-year-old".

Despite shaking directioners, Cowell said Malik's exit does not bother him.

He said: "To be honest I don’t even think about it too much because as soon as he left we sorted him out with a label who really were enthusiastic about him and then my loyalty was back with the boys."

Remaining members Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson went on to release their first album as a four piece - Made in the AM - which became the second fastest-selling album of 2015 in the UK.

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