Thursday, March 26, 2015 3:46am ET by  
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Louis Walsh says Zayn Malik was 'first to crack' in One Direction

Louis Walsh believes Zayn Malik was the first member of One Direction to succumb to the pressures of fame.

The singer called time on the band on Wednesday (March 25), citing his need to live a more normal life after five years in the spotlight.

Speaking to RTE, Walsh - who oversaw Malik's development as a judge on the X Factor in 2010 - said that he understands why the singer would want to leave One Direction.

He said: "I have heard the rumours for the last few weeks that everything wasn't happy in paradise.

"The problem with these guys is they've been in a bubble for the last five years, pressure, working, a lot harder than people think, so something had to give. So Zayn was the first person just to crack up a little bit.

"He's had an amazing time with the other guys. That's the good side of it. The dark side of it is all the travelling, the airports, in a bubble, not really seeing real life."

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