Zayn Malik seemed to look happier during his first public appearance after quitting One Direction. Meanwhile, the boy band manager, Simon Cowell, revealed that he was about to jump off the cliff after first hearing the announcement by Perrie Edwards' fiancé.

Zayn Malik's fiancée wasn't around but he did take his mother, Trisha, to the Asian Awards at London's Grosvenor hotel on Friday night.

It was also at the red carpet event where the 22-year-old debuted his buzz haircut, said Daily Mail.

"The former-boyband-member had shorn off his long locks, ditching a top knot in favour of an extreme shaved head," the article said. "Zayn was looking sharp in a navy suit and black tie with a simple white shirt and a pair of suede black boots."

Zayn Malik was hounded by cheating rumors which allegedly threatened his engagement with Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards.

Meanwhile, in an interview with James Corden's "The Late, Late Show," Simon Cowell said that he tried to talk Zayn Malik out of quitting One Direction.

"I was just about to jump off a cliff," he said per Daily Mail. "I was trying to say to him he should stay around a bit longer. But something inside him said he'd had enough."

He added, "I saw him in person as well - but once someone has made their mind up they are going to go. At the same time I don't want to push him too much because he's 22 and I could see he was a bit stressed and needed some time off."

The next step is talking to the other members of the band regarding Zayn Malik quitting One Direction.

"I dealt with it then I made sure the guys were OK - because they were shocked as well," the talent creator said. "So I had to respect his decision. For the boys it was interesting because they were in the middle of these live shows at the time."