--- description: "Everything I've done with them will stay with me for the rest of my life" title: Zayn Malik Thanks One Direction Bandmates in First Public Appearance Since Split image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd456de1599e11ff5/6987ebb7428a9e43a4ccaf9b/ap773346130304.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Zayn Malik Thanks One Direction Bandmates in First Public Appearance Since Split by [Amanda Michelle Steiner/People](/author/people/) ## Amanda Michelle Steiner/People Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 18, 2015 12:24 PM CUT  Zayn Malik poses for photographers upon arrival at The Asian Awards in central London, April 17, 2015. Zayn Malik poses for photographers upon arrival at The Asian Awards in central London, April 17, 2015.Joel Ryan—Invision/AP by [Amanda Michelle Steiner/People](/author/people/) ## Amanda Michelle Steiner/People Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 18, 2015 12:24 PM CUT This is not a drill. [Zayn Malik](http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,personsTax:ZaynMalik,00.html "undefined") attended the Asian Awards in London on Friday in his first public appearance [since leaving](http://www.people.com/article/zayn-malik-quits-one-direction "undefined") [One Direction](http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,EntPeopleTax:OneDirection,00.html "undefined"), reportedly thanking his bandmates in an acceptance speech. “I’d like to thank my mum and dad, and I’d also like to take this moment to thank four of the best guys I’ve ever met, everything I’ve done with them will stay with me for the rest of my life,” he told the audience, according to [_Now Daily_](http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/558437/zayn-malik-thanks-one-direction-as-he-accepts-outstanding-contribution-to-music-award-in-first-public-appearance#image2 "undefined"). The singer is also sporting a brand new look. His hair, which [had previously been shaved into a viking ponytail](https://twitter.com/zaynmalik/status/556548079449817088 "undefined"), was completely buzzed off at the event. Malik’s new nose ring, too, was on display. The stud in his left nostril was first seen when British music producer [Naughty Boy Tweeted out a photo](http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2015/04/17/did-zayn-malik-pierce-his-nose/ "undefined") late Thursday, leading to mass Directioner hysteria. (Especially given Naughty Boy’s tendency to “wind up” One Direction’s fans, as Malik’s former bandmate, [Louis Tomlinson](http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,personsTax:LouisTomlinson,00.html "undefined"), [once accused](http://www.people.com/article/zayn-malik-one-direction-fight-louis-tomlinson-naughty-boy-twitter "undefined").) The singer, 22, appeared at the awards with his mother, Trisha, as his date. In other 1D news, Tomlinson, [Liam Payne](http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,personsTax:LiamPayne,00.html "undefined") and [Niall Horan](http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,personsTax:NiallHoran,00.html "undefined") attended a _Great Gatsby_\-themed event on Thursday to benefit Trekstock, a cancer charity for which both Payne and [Harry Styles](http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,personsTax:HarryStyles,00.html "undefined") act as ambassadors Payne, 21, has been doing his part to raise funds for the charity via [Prizeo](http://www.prizeo.com/prizes/one-direction/a-trip-to-london/default "undefined") by offering updated One Direction merchandise (that is, without Malik pictured) and [the chance to spend time with the band](https://twitter.com/Real%5FLiam%5FPayne/status/588832237610803200 "undefined") at an upcoming show on their On the Road Again tour. Since the band took a break from their world tour earlier this month, Styles, 21, has taken up residence in Los Angeles. OTRA will pick back up in Cardiff, Wales, on June 5. _This_ [_article_](http://www.people.com/article/zayn-malik-asian-awards-first-appearance-since-one-direction-split "undefined") _originally appeared on_[ _People.com_](http://www.people.com "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3827400/zayn-malik-one-direction-2/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3827400/zayn-malik-one-direction-2/"},"headline":"Zayn Malik Thanks One Direction Bandmates in First Public Appearance Since Split","datePublished":"2015-04-18T12:24:18.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T06:29:48.721Z","description":"\"Everything I've done with them will stay with me for the rest of my life\"","url":"https://time.com/3827400/zayn-malik-one-direction-2/","keywords":["celebrities","Music"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd456de1599e11ff5/6987ebb7428a9e43a4ccaf9b/ap773346130304.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amanda Michelle Steiner/People"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd456de1599e11ff5/6987ebb7428a9e43a4ccaf9b/ap773346130304.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Zayn Malik","caption":"Zayn Malik","creditText":"Joel Ryan—Invision/AP","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3827400/zayn-malik-one-direction-2/","name":"Zayn Malik Thanks One Direction Bandmates in First Public Appearance Since Split"}}]}] ```