One Direction's Zayn Malik is "angry and upset" following intrusive questions from The Today Show's presenter, Matt Lauer about Zayn using drugs - when he was actually just off sick!
The Today Show’s presenter Matt Lauer asked the guys: “There have been rumours of substance abuse, what’s going on?”
Speaking to The Sun, Zayn said: “I’m really angry and upset by what was said on The Today Show. I was really ill at the weekend, that’s why I couldn’t fly to America.”
Zayn planned to rejoin his bandmates as soon as he’d recovered from his illness.
“As soon as I’m feeling better I’m going to join the guys and carry on with the promotion for the album.
“I was gutted to have to miss album release day. But I’m going to be back as soon as I can.”
One Direction were performing in Florida in front of a crowd of 15,000 to promote their new album - FOUR - leaving Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan to fend off the presenter’s awkward questions.
Niall shook his head at the question and the fans started to boo, he replied to Lauer: “No, he’s just got a stomach bug, he’s OK. He’s just at home. He just needs to rest. He’s OK.”
The presenter then pushed on with the drug questions, as he flagged that some people on social media thought Zayn looked gaunt from drug use.
Well, we’re glad you’re not on drugs, Zayn. As we all know: “Drugs are baaaayd, m’kay.”
We hope you get well soon.
Here's our track by track review of 1D's new abum, FOUR
FOUR One Direction song-by-song
1 of 12Steal My Girl
A song about everyone wanting to get with the 1D boys’ girlfriends. Danny DeVito was in the video for this anthemic lil number which is a bit alright. Liam’s soulful vocal gymnastics are really quite cute too. Given it's a One Direction song, there's a definite lack of 'nah nahs' but apart from that it's a gem.
2 of 12Ready To Run
The riff sounds a little bit like Avicci’s wake me up, but DON'T WORRY. 1D aren't ripping anyone off, it all changes and it becomes clear this is very much a 1D original. The lyrics are a bit vague- pointing to a weird kind of Directioner philosophy about ‘chasing the sun’ ( reference to the now defunct boy band The Wanted) and implying that they want to run somewhere very, very fast. And that they’re ready. Whatever that means (but who cares, right?).
3 of 12Where Do Broken Hearts Go
Has the same vibe from their last album, we can imagine them jumping around and high-fiving each other in a super-cute goofy-like fashion. “Now I’m searching every lonely place, every corner calling out your name.”Asking the age old question (first posed by the legend that was Whitney Houston ) “where do broken hearts go?”. Harry also co-wrote this song, and lord knows he’s left a trail of broken hearts.
4 of 1218
This track was written by Ed Sheeran and Passenger so how can it possibly be anything but perfection, right? But who is about? Which of the boys as been in love since they were 18? SO MANY QUESTIONS? The breakdown is pretty epic and we can totes imagine Niall (the token guitar player) rocking out with the actual 1D band to this.
5 of 12Girl Almighty
Hey, so this song is pretty cool. You can clap your hands to it and get a cool little bluesy, lyrical echo on the go. Plenty of, erm, religious undertones too if you’re into that kinda thing, and some rather interesting balloon imagery (yup, us neither).
6 of 12Fools Gold
The whole band gathered around to write this one, contributing to what has turned out to be a bit of a labour of love on the boys’ part. Such deep lyrics though. “I’m not done falling for your fool’s gold.” Who might this be?? Someone who isn’t all they appear to be? A reality star maybe??? You said it not us…
7 of 12Night Changes
The second single from the album, the boys debuted this during Friday’s Children In Need. It’s all about dreams and how they're not real, even if they come true. Despite what happens you’re still the same person deep down etc. So deep lads. Way to bake a cake out of rainbows and smiles.The band wrote this one together too, meaning that despite their life changing overnight they’re ALL still the same down-to-earth lads, OKAY.
8 of 12No Control
Well this snazzy tune has a cool lil guitar riff. It’s all about having sex and not being able to resist your S.O. Inneresting. The bass guitar sounds almost ska-like, have the lads been listening to Gwen Stefani of No Doubt?? Obv, it def sounds like One Direction, but we’re scouring for clues on how Louis and Liam wrote this cheeky track.
9 of 12Fireproof
Again, a bit of a rock n roll guitar sound, have the lads been watching old 50s movies?? Buddy Holly would be so, so impressed. It sounds like a funkier version of Little Things without the cringe-inducing lyrics about squeezing into a pair of jeans that are clearly too small. The main gist is that it's about being with someone for so long nothing can come between you; you’re ‘fireproof’.
10 of 12Spaces
So many echoes in the first few bars, like they sang this in an empty wardrobe. They sound so sad, so depressed. Do you lads want a hug? They're all intense and angsty, singing about stubborn lovers who just won’t GIVE IT UP. Can you imagine ever fighting with the likes of Harry and co??
11 of 12Stockholm Syndrome
So Harry Styles wrote this one, which makes it pretty spesh. It’s about being ‘tied down’ in a relationship but totally loving it. C’mon now, is this about Kendall or Taylor??? Judging by the intensity of the lyrics we’re guessing TayTay. But have you heard her latest album? It’s like they’re having a chat through platinum records, which in the world of international popstars is the equivalent of an indirect Facebook status.
12 of 12Clouds
Mysterious and moody Zayn helped pen this track, and despite his demeanour it's a bit of an upbeat, soon-to-be arena anthem. Although the title is fluffy and light (Clouds: where Care Bears cavort), it’s all fast riffs and ‘wooohooo’ing. With wise lyrics like ‘love is always changing’ and ‘another non-stop where it never ends’. Tragically, this is the last track on the album, we’re totally in the clouds now. Never, ever bring us back down 1D…