Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles, attend the Royal Variety Performance in support of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, at the Palladium Theatre in London
Members of boy band One Direction, Niall Horan (L-R), Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles, attend the Royal Variety Performance in support of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, at the Palladium Theatre in London November 13, 2014. Reuters/Yui Mok

Zayn Malik of One Direction worried his fans when he looked gaunt on his television appearance for "Jimmy Kimmel Live" last Thursday. He also allegedly caused Paul Higgins, the band's manager, to leave the group for good after a fight.

Zayn Malik was absent the last time that One Direction had a scheduled TV appearance for NBC's Today show, sparking rumours of drug abuse. However, when Zayn finally appeared on TV for "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in Hollywood last Thursday, rumours intensified further because of his gaunt and too thin appearance. The singer was in all black, making him look even thinner. With his hair scraped back, some fans think he looked truly unhealthy, Daily Star reports.

Apparently, the real cause of his absence was a strong bout of stomach flu. However, fans would not let up. When they saw him appeared on Jimmy Kimmel's talk show, some says he was acting like a zombie, a far cry from his joking and laughing bandmates. While the rest of the bandmates were joking around with host Jimmy and answering the questions thrown at them with gusto, he was mumbling one-word answers and looking bored and disinterested the whole time, Daily Star reports.

Asked who is "most likely to disappear for a few days," Zayn did not even answer or smile when the rest of the band members all laughed and looked at him. Jimmy Kimmel even tried to draw a lengthy response from him by asking him if he's engaged but Zayn remained curt in his answers. He only said "that's correct" to the question of whether he's engaged, and "yes" when asked if marriage for him turned out to be a good idea.

Daily Star reports that one fan could not take how Zayn is looking and acting that he tweeted the singer looks like an addict. Another said the singer behaving like an undead. Summer87 tweeted: "He looks like an emaciated drug addict so I'm not surprised there's rumours flying around." On the other hand, MWaggers tweeted, "He was acting like a zombie."

Zayn's behaviour is also to have said to cost the team a good manager. Following his absence on NBC's Today show, Zayn and Paul Higgins, their manager ever since they were formed back on X-Factor, had a fallout. Mirror UK reports that this rift caused Paul to leave the group to their own. Paul is said to have ran the show ever since the group was formed and the famous band has a good relationship with, even calling him their "daddy."