One Direction Drug Abuse & Break-up Rumors: 1D Angry at Matt Lauer; Never to Guest on 'Today' Show Again

One Direction was reportedly livid with "Today" show host Matt Lauer after accusing  Zayn Malik with substance abuse during their interview Monday, the RadarOnline.com reported.

Intended to promote their new album "Four" through an interview with the "Today" show, Malik was noticeably missing in action leaving the the four other members of One Direction to make the guest appearance.

"I'm counting chairs here and I see four. Normally we're used to seeing you guys with five, so let's start with the obvious: where is Zayn?" Lauer asked.

21-year-old Liam Payne responded, "He's got a tummy bug so he's not very well at the moment so he couldn't make it over."

Lauer, 56, pressed the band members for more information, citing online speculations for the real reason of Malik's absence, "There has been a lot of action on social media about him," said Lauer.

"Is it something more serious than just a minor illness? There have been rumors of substance abuse: what's going on?" he added.

Fellow band members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan looked comparably uncomfortable by Lauer's inquiry, with Horan shaking his head, as reported by the Independent Britain.

Payne responded confirming Malik was just having a stomach bug and "he's okay, He's just at home. He just needs to rest."

Lauer's inquiry drew noisy boos from the swarm made up of dominantly of young women who had been waiting hours for the bands appearance, according to the Daily Mail.

The show host's comment have been incensed by a footage showing Malik and Tomlinson smoking a joint while en route to Estadio Nacional in Lima, Peru last May.

The video was thought to have been stolen before it got leaked to the Daily Mail.

Malik's reaction was "really angry and upset" by the comments of the host. "I was really ill at the weekend, that's why I couldn't fly to America. I was gutted to have to miss album release day, but I'm going to be back as soon as I can," said Malik.

"As soon as I'm feeling better I'm going to join the guys and carry on with the promotion for the album," he added.

Meanwhile, a well-connected 1D insider added that this is no concern for Zayn.  One Direction is handling their fame the best way they can. If ever one of the members is getting out of hand, they would surely have an intervention, according to the RadarOnline.com.