Jeff Daly/NBCWhen One Direction performed on NBC’s Today show Monday without Zayn Malik, rumors started popping up online that there was something seriously wrong with him.  After the group told Today’s Matt Lauer that the reason Zayn missed the show was because he was ill and couldn’t travel, Lauer asked them to comment on those rumors…and now Zayn is reportedly hopping mad because of it.

The British tabloid The Sun reports Zayn told them, “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. 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.”

When Lauer asked the group, “Where is Zayn?” Liam Payne responded that they’d only found out that morning that Zayn had a “tummy bug” and couldn’t make it.  Lauer continued, “Obviously, there’s been a lot of concern, a lot of fans have been tweeting overnight, there’s been a lot of action on social media about him.  Is it something more serious than just a minor illness?  There have been rumors of substance abuse. What’s going on?”

“No, he’s just got a stomach bug…he’s at home, he just needs to rest. He’s OK,” responded Liam.

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