Oh dear. Although US TV host Bill Maher has never shied away from controversy, it's unlikely that he's ever had to deal with the wrath of a million Directioners, either.

With the trial of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev underway at the moment, tensions in the US are running high - but Maher stoked the fire recently by comparing the similarities in features between Tsarnaev and the former member of 1D, reports Billboard.

During his HBO show 'Real Time with Bill Maher', the host pretended to be upset by Malik's decision to quit the boyband, joking "I think after everything we've been through, I at least deserve the common respect of being told face-to-face. Just tell me two things, Zayn: Which one in the band were you?"

He then said "And where were you during the Boston Marathon?" as a split-screen of the two young men appeared on-screen.

Needless to say, it didn't go down well with many people - not least ardent fans of the band who are still dealing with the heartbreak of Malik's departure, and who demanded that Maher issue an apology to him.