One Direction’s Zayn Malik is Engaged

Sad news for One Direction fans: Zayn Malik is officially off the market.

The 20-year-old is engaged to longtime girlfriend and fellow singer Perrie Edwards of Little Mix. Edwards raised eyebrows after she was spotted wearing a huge ring at the premiere of This Is Us, the new One Direction film, on Tuesday. The couple’s rep confirmed the engagement to the Mirror on Wednesday.

When asked by a local radio station about his thoughts on being engaged, Malik replied, “It’s cool, yeah. We’re really happy, it’s cool.”

The reaction to the engagement was swift on social media, with Malik’s teenage fans expressing both dismay and congratulations (the hashtag #congratszaynandperrie was a trending topic for hours). A sampling is below.

Aye haye has apna @zaynmalik got engaged to Perrie? Avsos girls, be strong…

— Noreen Khan (@DJNoreenKhan) August 21, 2013

https://twitter.com/JusReign/status/370287736885764096

https://twitter.com/salma_khan/status/370297080046428160

Zayn and Perrie engaged!? OMG. EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER! @zaynmalik

— Samm (@SamxDirectioner) August 21, 2013

@zaynmalik IS ENGAGED? WHAT IS LIFE? Wahhhhhhhhhhhhh 🙁

— Kimberly Cotzias (@kimbrolyclaire) August 21, 2013

https://twitter.com/carlyjarvis_/status/370315769395281920

Zayn Malik is engaged. The world goes silent. Suddenly, a distant wailing. Thousands of girls come over the mountain, prepared for battle

— name can’t be blank (@sparenath) August 21, 2013