Morgan Spurlock, 'One Direction: This Is Us' Director: Zayn Malik 'Struggled The Most' With Touring Demands

Director Of 1D Doc Says Zayn Malik 'Struggled The Most' With Tour Demands

Morgan Spurlock got to know the men of One Direction pretty well while he was directing their documentary "This Is Us," and he told HuffPost Live on Tuesday that he always knew ex-member Zayn Malik struggled with fame.

Malik, who Spurlock called "probably my favorite guy in the band" and "probably the best singer in the group," announced last week that he was leaving One Direction to return to being "a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight."

Spurlock told HuffPost Live's Ricky Camilleri that he saw that sentiment in Malik from the time they met:

He always struggled with being on the road. He's a homebody. He wanted nothing more than to sit in his house and spray paint and draw and do art, and I think this explosion that happened to him -- which was something none of them ever predicted -- but I think he was the one who struggled with it the most. And being away, being on the road, being away from his girlfriend I think finally just got to him, and I think he said, "I'm done."

Unbeknownst to Spurlock, a Malik solo track called "I Won't Mind" was uploaded online less than a week after his departure was announced, leading to speculation that Malik actually left the band to pursue his own career.

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Before You Go

When He Casually Rocked This Beanie And Scarf
KHAP/GG via Getty Images
Hello Zayn off-duty!
And When He Wore A Turtleneck On The Red Carpet
Francois G. Durand via Getty Images
Twice.
Barry King via Getty Images
Bold. We like.
When He Wore A Kerchief To The Brit Awards
David M. Benett via Getty Images
And A Bow The Year Before
Dave M. Benett via Getty Images
When He Paired His Leather Jacket With A Plaid Scarf
Keith Tsuji via Getty Images
With a side of sexy gaze.
And Looked Like A Total Heartthrob In This Black And White Ensemble
Al Pereira via Getty Images
Swoon.
This Outfit.
Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images
SLAY.
And This Jacket With A Betty Boop Patch
Kevin Mazur/Fox via Getty Images
So fun.
When He Rocked The Canadian Tuxedo
Kevin Mazur via Getty Images
You can come visit anytime, Zayn.
And Wore This All-Black Number
Dave M. Benett via Getty Images
HOT.
This Dapper Look.
Slaven Vlasic via Getty Images
AND THAT HAIR!!
He Can Even Pair Black And Brown Together And Still Look Good!
Kevin Mazur via Getty Images
Men, take note.
This Adorable Suit
NBC NewsWire via Getty Images
Paired with kicks, obv.
And This Double Breasted Jacket
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
+ that hair curl.
When He Added A Touch Of Gold To His Outfit
Kevin Winter via Getty Images
And Wore A Ponytail While Off-Duty
RB/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images
If only we could see him in a man bun!
When He Rocked This Amazing Printed Sweater
Mark Robert Milan via Getty Images
Florals look good on you, Zayn.
And Tied A Bandana Around His Neck
Jo Hale via Getty Images
Because why not?
And Perfectly Paired This Printed Shirt With A Vest And Jeans
Kevin Winter via Getty Images
On point.
1D Will Never Be The Same.
David Livingston via Getty Images
*Insert sobbing emoji here*.

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