Zayn Malik Performs Powerful Tribute to One Direction in Mexico
Zayn Malik opened his first concert in Mexico with an emotional performance of One Direction’s hit song, “Night Changes.”
Fans quickly erupted into cheers and screams as the song’s opening notes played. Malik, who is currently on his “Stairway to the Sky Tour,” performed as the audience sang along. After wrapping up the song, he addressed the crowd, emotional about singing with them.
“It’s the first time I sang that song in 10 years,” he stated in a fan-recorded video. “Thank you, that was “f*cking amazing. I almost cried at one point. This is insane.”
Malik’s tribute to his former band comes on the tenth anniversary of his departure from the group. His exit was announced via social media in 2015.
“My life with One Direction has been more than I could have imagined,” Malik stated on Facebook. “But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I’d like to apologize to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart. I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight.”
A sold out arena on his FIRST solo tour! No in-ears, no gimmicks, no theatrics. Just Zayn, standing still w his mic-stand singing beautifully while looking like a million bucks
— Ash Amir (@savage_zquad) March 26, 2025
He did all this on HIS OWN TERMS y’all! pic.twitter.com/Y3KMlYvapw
The rest of the band’s members — Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and the late Liam Payne — continued as a group of four until announcing their hiatus in 2016. They each pursued solo careers after the band split up.
However, the boys recently suffered a tragic loss as Payne passed away in October. The remaining members reunited at Payne’s funeral a few months ago. Malik addressed the passing on social media.
“There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated,” he stated on X. “I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are.”
The “PILLOWTALK” singer had to postpone the US leg of his tour after the passing of his former bandmate. He continued the tour in November in Europe, pushing the US dates to January.
Tickets for the “Stairway to the Sky Tour” can be purchased here.
