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He made it! Zayn Malik looked gaunt as he joins One Direction band-mates for the first time after his absence sparked drug accusations
The last time One Direction had a scheduled TV appearance his band-mates had to cover for him, sparking allegations that his absence was due to drug abuse.

But on Thursday Zayn Malik made it for a television spot across the pond as he and his 1D cohorts arrived at Jimmy Kimmel Live in Hollywood.

The 21-year-old was looking a bit gaunt in all black as he stepped out of a hired car at the studio lot, following a bout with the stomach flu.

Wearing ripped skinny jeans, grey clogs and a snow jacket, the hunk pulled his dark hair back with a springy headband.

The band then made a hilarious appearance on the late night show where Kimmel asked a series of irreverent questions.

When asked if the mothers of teenage fans were sometimes more aggressive than their children, Harry Styles agreed – joking that some mothers almost push their daughters out of the way for an autograph.

The boys also described their meeting with the Duchess of Cambridge with Harry speaking for the boys again: “It’s like they’re really nice. But it’s like you are meeting people in the most unnatural meeting. With six people telling what to say and not to say.”

The heartthrobs then agreed that the band member most likely to disappear for a few days was in fact Zayn.

Just a few days before on Tuesday, Zayn was sporting red puffy eyes and looked gaunt as he was pictured preparing to fly to America to meet the rest of his band-mates.

The heart throb was taken ill with a “tummy bug” and could not attend the band’s album launch in Orlando earlier at the weekend – but had to defend himself against drug claims.

It’s been a gruelling week for the young lad as on top of his illness, he has also had to hit back against drug abuse claims made about him by US host Matt Lauer on The Today Show.

Speaking to Dan Wootton at The Sun, he fumed: “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.”

When host Lauer interviewed the boys, he shocked them when he asked if Zayn’s absence was related to drugs.

He said: “There’s obviously a lot of concern, a lot of fans have been tweeting overnight. Is it something more serious? There have been rumours of substance abuse. What’s going on?”

One Direction were together as a five-piece in London on Saturday to record the new Band Aid 30 single but just four of them made it to a promotional appearance for their new album Four in Orlando on Monday.

Fans were left furious with Lauer’s line of questioning. Liam Payne replied: “No, he’s just got a stomach bug. He’s okay. He’s just at home. He just needs to rest.”

The others were not impressed with Niall Horan’s only reply – a rude noise.

Zayn’s absence meant the pop group were a man down as they appeared on NBC’s Today show at Universal Studios.

A representative for 1D told MailOnline at the time: “Zayn was taken ill after recording the Band Aid single at the weekend and was unfortunately not well enough to fly to the USA.”— Teenhollywood.