Naughty Boy has removed the demo of Zayn Malik's first solo track from music sharing service Soundcloud, just hours after posting the new music on Twitter. The producer received a backlash from One Direction fans after posting the demo online, with many accusing the music producer of stirring up trouble.
"You literally want to fight so bad. Dropping Zayn's song while this mess, nice," wrote one fan, while another tweeted: "You know how upset we are and how much we want Zayn back in the band and then you post this!"
The 30-year-old has not explained his decision to take down the two-minute track, but simply tweeted: "No one is against anyone here. The fans made all of us. Not just a chosen few. The love is alive. Hate just doesn't belong there."
Zayn Malik has recorded a track with Naughty Boy
Naughty Boy told fans to "let the music do the talking" when he first shared the track entitled I Won't Mind during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
His decision to release the collaboration – which fans have given the moniker 'Zaughty' - came just hours after he got into a Twitter spat with Zayn's former bandmate Louis Tomlinson. The 23-year-old was riled after spotting a video the musician had retweeted saying 'Zaughty will rise" and accused him of trying to wind up One Direction fans.
"Wow @NaughtyBoyMusic you're so inconsiderate pal, seriously how old are you? Grow up! #masterofallwisdom" Louis tweeted.
Zayn Malik announced that he was leaving One Direction on Wednesday
However Naughty Boy was unapologetic and hinted that there was more to Zayn leaving the band by saying "time will tell the real story guys".
Zayn announced that he was leaving One Direction on Wednesday after five years in the record-breaking band. Shortly after abandoning the group's South East Asia tour to jet back to Britain, he released a statement: "My life with One Direction has been more than I could have ever imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band.
"I'd like to apologise 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.
Zayn said he has friends for life in his One Direction bandmates
"I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world."
The singer has since been spotted house-hunting in Hertfordshire with his fiancée, Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards.