Louis Tomlinson has said his friendship with former One Direction band mate Zayn Malik deteriorated after he failed to show up to watch his X Factor performance days after his mother’s death.
Tomlinson said the other members of the group – Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Niall Horan – flew from around the world to watch his emotional rendition of Just Hold On.
However he said Zayn was not there, placing further strain on the relationship between the former bandmates.
Speaking on podcast The Dan Wootton Interview, he said: “Truthfully, it never really got better.
“I had a couple of calls with him after I lost my mum and all the boys had agreed to come to that performance and he didn’t show so that really bugged me.”
Speaking of the night he performed on the X Factor in December 2016, three days after his mother Johannah Deakin died aged 43 from cancer, Tomlinson said: “I’ve got goosebumps now.”
He added: “It was just seeing everyone there – Harry, Niall and Liam – that was what I needed that night, that support.”
Referencing Zayn, he said: “So on the other end of the spectrum, it kind of really showed. So, eh, I hope he’s all right, but…”
A representative of Zayn has been contacted for comment.
Tomlinson, 27, also hinted he may quit his role as an X Factor judge amid Simon Cowell’s plans for an overhaul of the show.
Cowell is reportedly planning on replacing contestants with celebrities and asked if he would return to the programme, he said: “I don’t know, honestly.”