Simon Cowell Makes Awkward Zayn Malik Joke to One Direction

Simon Cowell was honored on Monday night (Nov. 2) at the Music Industry Trusts Award gala in London for all of his contributions to the music and entertainment industry. But, when the X Factor founder and Syco Records boss was handed his award by his (arguably) most successful group to date, One Direction, he drunkenly made a joke that made both the boys and the audience feel a little uncomfortable.

And, of course, it was about Zayn Malik.

Cowell was admittedly "hammered" when he accepted his lifetime achievement award, given to him by Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan. "Just my luck I get the award I've been wanting all my life and I'm completely hammered," he said according to The Daily Mail. Then, he made a mildly off-color joke that reportedly landed awkwardly.

"Guys, who misses Zayn?" he quipped.

Malik left One Direction after four years in the band in March of this year. When he first announced his departure, Cowell joked that the news made him want to "jump off a cliff."

Though the loss of a member could have seemingly been the end of One Direction, the band has trudged on without him, finishing up a world tour and recording a new album Made in the A.M., which is due for release on Friday, Nov. 13.

One Direction is putting in all this hard work before all going their separate ways, for a time. The boy band is set to start an "indefinite hiatus" in spring 2016, though they have promised that they will return to making new music one day.

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Simon Cowell, One Direction