One Direction: performed and were interviewed
"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," Malik said in a statement to The Sun (via US Weekly). "I was gutted to have to miss album release day, but I'm going to be back as soon as I can. As soon as I'm feeling better I'm going to join the guys and carry on with the promotion for the album."
During the One Direction interview, Lauer asked the four present members - Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson - where Malik was. ""He's got a tummy bug so he's not very well," Payne said."We only found out this morning so we're really sad, he is as well, that he can't be here for our album release. It's still going to be a great day, I'm sure."
Lauer didn’t buy the excuse and prodded about possible substance abuse in Malik’s life, but Payne stuck close to the stomach virus claim. “No, he’s just got a stomach bug. He’s okay. He’s just at home. He just needs to rest. He’s okay,” he said.
Lauer's questions weren't the first time that Malik has faced drug use claims. Earlier this year, the singer and his bandmate Louis Tomlinson were caught on video smoking pot before a One Direction concert, joking that they were "warming up with Mary J."
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