Zayn Malik cancels Capital’s Summertime Ball appearance ‘due to anxiety’
One Direction singer pulled out of Wembley Stadium gig minutes after he was due on stage
ZAYN Malik cancelled his appearance at the Capital Summertime Ball moments after being due on stage due to "anxiety".
The ex-One Direction star, 23, was set to make his UK debut as a solo artist at the event at London's Wembley Stadium this evening, but ended up throwing the event in to chaos.
However, shortly after the bad news was delivered, he posted an explanation on Instagram.
He wrote: "To all those people who have been waiting to see me perform at the Capital Summertime Ball today..
"I flew in to the UK last night to appear in my home country in front of my family, friends, and most importantly my UK fans.
"Unfortunately my anxiety that has haunted me throughout the last few months around live performances has gotten the better of me... with the magnitude of the event, I have suffered the worst anxiety of my career.
"I cannot apologise enough but I want to be honest with everyone who has patiently waited to see me, I promise I will do my best to make this up to everybody I've let down today.
"I know those who suffer anxiety will understand and I hope those who don't can empathise with my situation."
His last minute cancellation left fans - many who had waited since midday to see him perform - devastated.
Once it was revealed that the Bradford lad wasn't going to perform, hundreds of people started to file out of the arena, leaving rapper Tinie Tempah to perform to a patchy-crowd.
One onlooker told The Sun: "Fans are literally sobbing and leaving the stadium.
"It's been a long day - these kids were desperate to see Zayn - why couldn't he have cancelled earlier in the day and not after he was meant to have been on stage?"
Rio, 19, from Oxford had travelled down to London for the event with her little sister for the event and was devastated when his absence was announced at the last minute.
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Leaving the venue she told The Sun: "We are so disappointed. We travelled down especially to see Zayn and they didn't even give us any warning.
"They just said he was ill. They clearly knew he wasn't going to be on, I just wish they had told us earlier."
Set times were pushed back with Flo Rida and Ariana Grande performing longer sets to account for his absence.
Event bosses had gone all out to make sure that Zayn felt comfortable, and even ensured that his dressing room was a whole TEN doors from ex-girlfriend Perrie Edwards'.
The 22-year-old took to the stage with her Little Mix bandmates earlier today.
Zayn and Perrie split up last August after a long romance that began when they met backstage at The X Factor in 2011.
The RnB singer has since moved on with leggy US model Gigi Hadid, who he was rumoured to have split from last week.
However they have since been seen together, fuelling rumours they had merely suffered a lover's tiff.
A statement from Capital - sent out three minutes after the Bodytalk singer's official stage time - confirmed he wouldn't be performing.
It read: “We’re very sorry we’ve just been told that due to illness Zayn will not be performing at today’s show.
"We know everyone’s already had a great day and enjoyed the 19 other huge artists’ performances but of course we’re all gutted that Zayn’s had to pull out tonight at the last minute.
"We’re sure Zayn will let his fans know what’s happened as soon as he can and we know everyone will join us in wishing him better.”
A representative for Zayn has been approached for comment.
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