London, Aug 19 (IANS): Former One Direction singer Zayn Malik has been accused of "turning into Chris Brown but without any hits" by a former friend.

The 22-year-old singer, who left the famous British boy band in March, is on the path towards self-destruction and risks alienating his fans and people within the music industry before the release of his first solo album, according to a former close friend, with whom Zayn recently cut all contact.

"He's a little boy who needs to grow up. It's really bad for him. He's turning into Chris Brown but without any hits," the friend was quoted as saying by The Sun newspaper, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"He is self-destructing right now and I hope he's got someone there for him. I doubt he has, though, so that's why I'm worried for him.

"He's p***ing off so many people, it's very hard to see him having much support left by the time he's finally ready to release any music," he added.

While some of Malik's fans have tried to defend his behaviour, which has included a Twitter row with Scottish DJ Calvin Harris, his former friend insisted the singer's problems are entirely of his own making.

"He has gone power crazy. You can blame other people, like his new management, but really it's him. I don't understand it. He has not had any success as a solo artist yet, so his ego shouldn't be that driven. He has gone mad, power mad," the friend added.