Zayn Malik 'planned his One Direction exit for nearly a year' according to former JLS singer and close pal Oritse Williams

Published: 02:46 EST, 23 April 2015 | Updated: 04:40 EST, 23 April 2015

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Zayn Malik broke millions of hearts when he announced he was quitting One Direction mid-way through the South East Asian leg of their current tour in March.

But former JLS singer and a close pal of the star, Oritse Williams, 28, has claimed that 22-year-old Zayn had been thinking about leaving the band for almost a year.

Talking to The Mirror, Oritse, who is launching a solo career, said he spoke to the singer about leaving the band on a trip to Las Vegas last September - and he advised him to 'be himself'.

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Not a rash decision: Zayn Malik was reportedly thinking about leaving One Direction for nearly a year, according to his friend Oritse Williams

Zayn calls bandmates 'best guys I've ever met' at Asian Awards

He told the paper: 'Zayn spoke to me when we were together in Vegas last year. Niall did too. Zayn was talking to me in confidence. I told him he had a great run and to enjoy it.

'They are very, very blessed guys. It’s a very special thing and not a lot of artists show gratitude for that. But I told him to be himself and to keep going.

Zayn Malik has broken a month long absence from Twitter with two tweets addressed to his loyal fan-base.

Speaking out: The former JLS singer, who is launching a solo career, said he spoke to the singer about leaving the band on a trip to Las Vegas last September - and he advised him to 'be himself'

Posting on Monday afternoon, he finally shared his first tweets since he left the band. In the first, he credited those who have remained loyal to him following his decision to leave.

He wrote: ‘Wanna say thanks to everyone that's been there for me over the last few weeks, love you all.. you know who you are x’

Posting a second shortly afterwards he added: ‘The x is a kiss by the way ha it's not a mystery .. sorry to any confused ...’

When five become four: The singer sensationally quit the band in March, mid-way through the South East Asian leg of their current tour

The tweets were written almost a month after Zayn, engaged to Little Mix star Perrie Edwards, reacted angrily to claims of a fling while partying in Thailand, during the band's world tour.

Tweeting on March 18, he wrote: 'I'm 22 years old... I love a girl named Perrie Edwards. And there's a lot of jealous f***s in this world I'm sorry for what it looks like x.'

The singer was referring to images in which he is seen partying with tattooed holidaymaker Lauren Richardson at the Seduction nightclub in Phuket.

A spokesperson for Zayn told MailOnline: 'Oritse is trying to launch a solo career, so therefore needs to be in the papers with stories about other celebrities.'

Zayn Malik causes frenzy at The Asian Awards in London

Shout out: The singer credited those who have remained loyal to him following his decision to leave the band, writing: ‘Wanna say thanks to everyone that's been there for me over the last few weeks, love you all.. you know who you are x’