The world of One Direction was rocked last week when—just after leaving the band's "On The Road Again" Tour—Zayn Malik officially quit the boy band. The group has continued on the tour as Directioners continue to recover from the trauma (as reported by our own Carolyn Menyes last week), but obvious logistical issues have come to the fore: What happens to band merchandise that still features Malik prominently (aka most of it)? The group hasn't quite figured that issue out yet but it has solved a slightly simpler issue, apparently having successfully edited the vocalist out of the band's opening montage video for last weekend's show in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The original video (which you can view below) was clearly designed with the stage screen apparatus in mind, itself consisting of five screens assembled as an angled wall. Some edits to the video, we imagine, we simple, such as just removing Malik's head during the segments where each member's portrait is displayed it their own screen. Whether editors went as far as to remove Malik from group shots of the band walking down the street remains to be seen (we haven't gotten a view of the new video as of yet).
Another important issue to deal with when a member of a boy band leaves unexpectedly: figuring out who's going to sing that individual's solo moments. According to reports, One Direction members Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson have been splitting the load during concerts.
As for merchandise? If you've been holding out for some One Direction apparel and don't mind a former member still being on it, keep an eye online. Odds are the band will have to offer cut-rate prices to make any money off of leftover merch. Reports of retailers selling cardboard cutouts of the group wholesale have also come through.
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