Camila Cabello has pulled a Zayn Malik.
The singer shocked her fans and fans of all-girl group Fifth Harmony over the weekend when she just up and quit the popular band.
Unlike Malik, however, whose frustrations with One Direction were pretty well known by the time he left in early 2015, Cabello had given no indication of this move prior to making it.
The decision has left the music industry stunned and confused.
Heck, Fifth Harmony – with Cabello belting out man lyrics and dancing all around – performed in Sunrise, Florida at Y100’s Jingle Ball on Sunday.
Mere hours later, thought, via a statement released on Twitter, the remaining Fifth Harmony members confirmed the 19-year-old was leaving the band.
They said they’d heard about her departure through her spokesperson. Ouch!
That’s not exactly professional.
“After 4 and a half years of being together, we have been informed via her representatives that Camila has decided to leave Fifth Harmony. We wish her well,” the group wrote on social media.
They proceeded to thank fans for their love and support, adding:
“You Harmonizers have been there with us since the beginning, you’ve supported us, you’ve rejoiced and cried with us, you’ve grown with us, and with your love and support, we will continue on.”
Fifth Harmony is now comprised of just four members: Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane Hansen, Lauren Jauregui and Normani Hamilton.
They concluded their statement as follows:
We are excited to announce that we will be moving forward with the four of us – Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane and Lauren Jauregui for our fans. We are four strong, committed women who will continue with Fifth Harmony, as well as our solo endeavors.
We are excited for our future, and we can’t wait for what the new year brings. Harmonizers, we are in this together. We love you with all of our hearts. Love Ally, Normani, Dinah and Lauren.
Back in September, Cabello departed a Fifth Harmony concert in St Louis early, citing “anxiety.”
“Hi Missouri, sorry I couldn’t finish the set last night,” the artist wrote on Snapchat after the show. “Was having too much anxiety and couldn’t finish it. I love u. I’m truly sorry.”
Prior to this anxious moment, Cabello had teamed up with music producer Benny Blanco for a solo song, prompting many to speculate about her musical future.
It’s fine if she wants to move on, of course. We understand wanting to spread her wings in order to see how high she can fly on her own.
But it doesn’t sound she handled her departure in a very classy or mature way.
Perhaps we should have seen this coming, though.
In April of last year, Cabello was asked about Malik quitting One Direction and commented:
‘I think it made people sad, but at the same time happiness and health [are] the most important thing. At the end of the day, he’s a person, and he’s a human being, and he needs to take care of himself.”