Zayn Malik's Leaving One Direction to Fans' Crushing Disappointment

— -- One Direction fans basically lost it after Zayn Malik announced Wednesday he is leaving the English-Irish boy band.

"My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined,” the singer, 22, wrote on Facebook. “But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band.”

The instant fallout includes, on Twitter alone, three trending phrases, including #ByeZayn. Some fans ever changed their Twitter handles to "Always, Zayn."

Vines with montages of Zayn also popped up.

Another fan wrote #AlwaysInOurHeartsZaynMalik.

Even celebs took it hard, like Kevin McHale of “Glee.”

"But Zayn's voice...like butter! Still my fav. Do you, Zayn, do you," he wrote.

And there were many thanks from loyal fans:

And, of course, some had to grieve.