Zayn Malik, now a former member of the band One Direction, is shown. Boston mayor: 'We are all devastated about Zayn Malik but we must soldier on'

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has joined the swarms of despondent tweens mourning the departure of One Direction member Zayn Malik.

On Wednesday, as news broke that the English boy-band star was leaving the group, one tweeter asked the mayor “why have you not yet released an official statement on the Zayn Malik situation?”


“We are all devastated about Zayn Malik but we must soldier on,” Walsh responded.

Walsh’s response came as the mayor was asking his Twitter followers to ask him questions using the hashtag #AskMJW.

On Wednesday, the band posted on Facebook updating fans that Malik had decided to leave One Direction.

“After five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band,” Malik said. “I’d like to apologise to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart.”

The band, now down one member, is set to perform in Massachusetts on Sept. 12.