Zayn Malik
One Direction fans on Twitter threatened to "cut for Zayn Malik" after he left the band Wednesday. Reuters

A dangerous trend emerged on Twitter after Zayn Malik quit the British pop band One Direction. Some Twitter users are promoting self-harm with the hasthags “cut for Zayn,” “cut 4 Zayn” or “cutting for Zayn.”

When Malik, 22, announced his departure from the group on Facebook Wednesday, some fans have taken the trend seriously and actually threatened to cut:

Others took the "cutting for Zayn" trend as a joke:

Like with any trend, there’s been a backlash. There are just as many people who are afraid of promoting self-harm. They pleaded with Directioners to discontinue the hashtag:

Malik has not issued a statement about his fans allegedly inflicted self-injuries over his decision to quit. In his goodbye post on Facebook, the singer explained he was overwhelmed with the band and essentially wanted time to be a regular 22-year-old. He reassured his fans, and possibly his former band mates, that he will always consider Harry, Liam, Niall and Louis his friends.

"My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I'd like to apologize to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart,” Malik wrote. “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. 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."

His fiancée, Perrie Edwards, has been labeled the "Yoko Ono of One Direction." When asked if she was the reason Malik left the band, "X Factor" judge Louis Walsh essentially said yes. Days before Malik shared his announcement, he posted a telling tweet about Edwards on his official account. "I'm 22 years old... I love a girl named Perrie Edwards. And there's a lot of jealous f---s in this world I'm sorry for what it looks like x," he said.

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