Zayn Malik apologized for pulling out of U.K. concert with minutes to spare
Zayn Malik is “so sorry” to fans after pulling out of his U.K. show Tuesday, minutes before the performance was supposed to start, as he and fellow One Direction alumni reckon with the “wake-up call” of Liam Payne’s death.
The “Stardust” crooner, 31, apologized on his Instagram Story for canceling on “such short notice,” saying he’d tried to hold off on doing so in the hope he could actually take the stage at O2 City Hall Newcastle.
“I’m so sorry to do this but my voice just isn’t there at all tonight and without it there’s no show. I’m truly sorry to let you down, especially at such short notice…” wrote Malik. “I held onto hope until the very last moment. … My deepest apologies Newcastle love you all xx.”
The “PILLOWTALK” singer expressed on Instagram that he hoped taking the night to rest would prove enough time to recover and perform the following night.
At the time of publication, Malik is still slated to perform one of his “Stairway to the Sky” tour shows at O2 Apollo Manchester.
Tuesday’s cancellation is the latest hiccup in the tour. Malik postponed the U.S. leg in mid-October, which he attributed to the “heartbreaking” loss of 31-year-old Payne. The late pop star fell to his death from a third-story balcony in Buenos Aires earlier that week.
Days before Malik and fellow former bandmates — Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan — attended Payne’s funeral, Malik postponed multiple European dates due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
Payne’s death “was a wake-up call for all” of the band’s surviving members, a source told Us Weekly in a story reported Wednesday.
“Prior, they kept in touch sporadically but didn’t have close friendships at all,” said the insider, adding that losing Payne “brought them back together.”
Three people have been charged in connection with Payne’s death, which Argentine authorities have blamed on the drugs found in his system.
Though the artists are “all still mourning,” they’re “checking in on each other and feel closer than they have in years.”
Malik has paid tribute to “my brother” Payne at his recent performances, including in the latter’s hometown last weekend.
