In a heartwarming speech Zayn Malik gave after receiving the Outstanding Achievement in Music honor at the 2015 Asian Awards, he made sure to thank everyone-his family and his friends, especially the boys of One Direction.

Since parting ways with the band, Zayn has not made any public appearances until now. On Friday, Zayn took the stage, sporting a shaved do and a new nose ring, as he was honored for Outstanding Achievement in Music. Born to a British-Pakistani father and a British mother, he jokingly thanked his parents "for making me Asian," which drew laughs from the audience.

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After the joking, he got a little bit serious and took the opportunity to thank his former band members, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, who he describes as "four of the best guys that I ever met." Thanking them for all of the amazing things they had been through as a band, he said "the things we did will stay with me for the rest of my life. Here's to the future."

Perrie Edwards, Zayn's fiancée, was nowhere in sight, but spotted with him was his proud mother, Trisha Malik. 

Simon Cowell, the man behind the success of One Direction since their X Factor days and head of the band's record label, Syco music, recently spoke up on Zayn's departure and the future of the band during a guest appearance on The Late Late Show.

The talent scout told the show's host, James Corden, that he tried his best to convince Zayn to stick around a little longer. However, he revealed that there was something in the young singer that made him say "No," because he's had enough. And when he finally realized that there wasn't any more convincing that could be done, he simply dealt with it and made sure that the rest of the One Direction members were okay because they were all shocked with Zayn's sudden decision to leave.

Oscar winner Michael Douglas, who was beside Simon throughout the interview, joined in on the discussion and said, "I heard it was a little more complicated than that. My sources tell me there might have been somebody else involved," before asking, "Where is Zayn today?"

The host, surprised by Michael's claims, asked him what he was talking about, to which the actor jokingly replied, "I have no idea!"

"You are a bad boy," Simon simply told Michael.

TagsZayn Malik, One Direction, 1D, Asian Awards, 2015 Asian Awards