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ENTERTAINMENT: Avi Kaplan is leaving A Capella group ‘Pentatonix’

Aca scuceย me? Yup, acaย believe it either.

Through a video shared on the official Facebook page of A Capella group ‘Pentatonix’, member Avi Kaplan has announced his departure from the quintet.

Screen Shot 2017 05 13 at 5.33.56 PM e1494670661884Screencap c/o Pentatonix’s Official Facebook page

 

“I think that one of the reasons why we have been so successful and we have been able to accomplish all these things is the unbelievably fast pace that we keep. Throughout my career with Pentatonix, that pace has always been a really big struggle for me,” the 28-year-old California native explained.

The three minute video features the five members with Avi in the middle, with him explaining his reasons for leaving the group, as well as a long captionย “from him”.

It captions:

“A MESSAGE FROM AVI

Hello everyone. If you havenโ€™t yet watched the video then these words might come as a shock to you.

If you have watched, know that this is exactly what I would have said in the video, if filming it wasnโ€™t one of the toughest things Iโ€™ve ever had to do. This morning, I announced that I will be taking a step back from PTX.

Iโ€™ve struggled with this decision a lot. It has been the hardest decision Iโ€™ve ever had to make in my life.

Before I explain why, I want you all to know that the past 6 years have been the most unbelievable years of my life.

The things weโ€™ve accomplished, the places weโ€™ve seen, the people weโ€™ve touched with our musicโ€ฆ It surpasses anything that I could have ever dreamed up for my life.

I believe one of the big reasons why we have been so successful and accomplished all that we have is because of the unbelievably fast pace that we keep. Throughout my journey with PTX, this pace has always been a struggle for me. Itโ€™s been hard for me not to be with my family and friends when I need them or when they need me. Itโ€™s been hard to not be able to escape into nature when Iโ€™m feeling overwhelmed or just need some time to myself.

Through all of this, Iโ€™ve done my best and Iโ€™ve kept pushing myself to keep up. Really, the reason why Iโ€™ve been able to push so hard and for so long has been because of you guys. You all have inspired me and lifted me up every single day and, for that, I am eternally grateful.

I do love you all so very much, but Iโ€™ve come to a point where I just canโ€™t keep up anymore and I would never want to inhibit any type of success that we have because I truly do believe in everything that weโ€™ve done and everything that they will do. I just know that I can no longer continue at this pace and so I have to do whatโ€™s best for the group and I have to do whatโ€™s best for me.

I do want you all to know that Iโ€™m still going to be doing music and Iโ€™m going to be doing it with my whole heart. I will ALWAYS do my best to lift others up with my voice. I hope that youโ€™ll all support my decision and that you can understand where Iโ€™m coming from. And regardless of anything, I just want to thank you for all that youโ€™ve given to me. I have been so unbelievably blessed and humbled to be a part of all your lives in any way and I wanted you to hear this from me. From my voice. And from my heart.

I love you all deeply and I thank you for everything. Truly.

And just so you know, I will still be performing at all of our announced shows, so come say hi and give me a hug. I love hugs.

Avi

#PTXForever

Pentatonix AviPhoto from Pinterest

Kaplan admits that his decision “is something I’ve been struggling with a lot, and it’s been one of the toughest decisions to make in my entire life (…)ย I’ve decided to take a step back from Pentatonix.”
ย 
Kaplan also admits that throughout his years as a Pentatonix member, they have been the “unbelievably years of his entire life“.

 

Watch the video below! You may also view the original post here.
ย We’ll miss you, Avi – but we wish you the best!

 

Video credits go to the Pentatonix Official Facebook page.

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