Stephen Hawking offered some theoretical hope for One Direction fans still reeling from member Zayn Malik's decision to leave the band.
The iconic physicist and cosmologist said while appearing via the hologram for a lecture at the Sydney Opera House in London over the weekend that the singer could one day be a member of a pop group in another universe.
Hawking was asked to talk about the cosmological effect of Malik's unexpected departure during the talk.
"My advice to any heartbroken young girl is to pay attention to the study of theoretical physics because, one day, there may well be proof of multiple universes," said Hawkins, according to a video clip posted online.
Hawkings added, "It would not be beyond the realms of possibility that somewhere outside of our own universe lies another different universe. And in that universe, Zayn is still in One Direction."
The band announced in March that Malik had decided to leave the group after five years.
"I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band," he said in a statement posted to Facebook. "I'd like to apologize to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right."
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The band continued its world tour after the announcement.
