Manager that 1D used to call Daddy has left the band after he allegedly fell out with singer Zayn Malik
One Direction have split with the long-standing tour manager they called Daddy – after he allegedly fell out with singer Zayn Malik.
Paul Higgins, who had worked with the band since shortly after they formed in 2010, was one of their closest confidants and a major part of their touring operation.
But it was claimed he clashed with Zayn and last week flew back from the US, where the band are promoting their new album, Four.
A source said: “There have been issues behind the scenes for a while, and they’ve finally come to a head leading to Paul’s relationship with the band coming to an end.”
It was feared the falling-out may have been a factor in Zayn’s absence from the band’s commitments in the US earlier this week.
The cause of the alleged row remained unclear last night, but was believed to have begun after the band joined superstars including Bono and Chris Martin to record their part on the Band Aid 30 single last weekend.
Bandmates Harry Styles, 20, Niall Horan, 21, Louis Tomlinson, 22, and Liam Payne, 21 then flew to the US – though Zayn did not join them.
Paul revealed on Wednesday he had flown home, and Zayn jetted out to join the lads on Thursday.
When he failed to join the band’s performance on NBC’s Today show in Orlando, Florida, the lads said he had a “stomach bug”. They were left furious when the show’s host Matt Lauer raised suggestions “substance abuse” could be involved. However, Zayn later insisted: “I was really ill.”
The source described Paul as “solid as a rock” and “totally dependable”, adding: “In many ways he has completely run the show while they’ve been on tour – they even call him Daddy. He became a friend as well as a key part of their management set-up.
“He’s always been at the heart of the One Direction team, and it’s hard to think of them going on tour without him there.”
Fans jokingly called him 1D’s “babysitter”, and he has been pictured throwing himself in front of the young singers to protect them from crowds.
All five lads attended Paul’s wedding in his native Ireland, and a video they made to celebrate the marriage went viral and was watched more than two million times online.
Of all five members of the boyband, Paul was understood to have been particularly close to fellow Irishman Niall.
Paul previously worked with acts including Boyzone, Westlife and Girls Aloud, and is respected as one of the best in his field.
