How a selfie made a monkey out of Zayn Malik
Zayn Malik, the hot shot, young singing sensation who made headlines by walking out of the biggest new age pop band, One Direction, claims to be a victim of selfie mania. The singer, who is well known for obliging his fans by posing for a selfie just like any other celebrity, had to pay a price by way of app menace. Selfie mania - the biggest addiction of the gadget freaks seems to be the newest threat for the celebrities.
If Zayn is to be believed, he became a prey of the selfie-culture. The singer blamed the "opportunist" girls for circulating the selfies to spread the cheating rumours. Stardom comes with a price and the advent of new technologies is emerging as the newest tool of destruction for the star icons. Stars clicking a selfie with fans at public event have become commonplace, but the misuse of selfies could be the next step for disaster. Once upon a time it was flattering for celebrities to get mobbed by fans requesting for an autograph on a flashy diary or a currency note. Michael Jackson, famously, would turn down his crazily, screaming female fans' requests to sign autographs on their cheek, arm or back. Fans these days are far more prepared as they approach their favourite star icons, armed with high-tech cell phones or tablets loaded with strong megapixel cameras to get a selfie meant to be posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Twenty-two year-old Zayn, ex-member of the world’s biggest British-Irish boy band, was no different as he obliged millions of his fans, especially teenage girls by taking cosy-posy selfies. The singer has blamed women of misusing these selfies to spread stories of him sleeping with them. Some women in Phuket, where Zayn's band was performing as part of their world tour, circulated the lovey-dovey selfies to substantiate their claims of the singer’s adulterous behaviour.
Swedish model Martina Olsson and a mystery girl later identified as Lauren Richardson got lucky enough to get a cosy selfie with the cute singer. After posting the selfie on Twitter and Instagram, the girls evidently were quick to spread rumours about bedding the singing sensation.
The singer obviously has been crying foul by claiming to be a victim of the newest tool of cyber bullying meant to target celebs.
Those keeping a track of various forms of celebrity disaster have taken note of the newest menace on the block. Selfies with fans, meant for keepsake, used as a ploy to "frame" a star is kind of a naive idea. It reminds one of Bollywood in the '90s, when every star spotted with the most wanted gangster at an extravagant bash, at a plush hotel in Mumbai or Dubai would plead not guilty. In those days, most actors would claim that it was a mandatory routine to get photographed with their fans, never mind if the fan in question is the most wanted "bhai" of D company.
Zayn Malik, the Bradford-bred boy of Pakistani descent, chose the perfect time to talk about disaster via selfies. A find of the musical reality show Britain’s Got Talent, Zayn sensationally walked out of the band, on March 18, after performing for the last time in Hong Kong. The news of his quitting the band had broken the internet, causing much heartbreak to the directioners (the new age term coined for One Direction fans) across the globe.
Stress was the reason cited by him, which led him to quit the band, as he wants to lead a peaceful life of a random 22-year-old. So the young boy is on a month-long visit to Pakistan to spend time with his extended family, and in search for his roots. This would avoid any further celebrity stress caused by way of technological gimmicks.