Zayn Malik is supporting Louis Tomlinson 'privately' after his mother's tragic passing... as he remains in New York during his former bandmate's emotional X Factor performance

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They famously entered a feud after the pop star left One Direction. 

But new reports state that Zayn Malik has put his differences with Louis Tomlinson aside, in order to support him after the tragic passing of his mother Johannah Deakin on Friday.

Having sent a compassionate Tweet to his former bandmate, 24, Zayn has since contacted Louis privately to help him through his grief, according to The Mirror.

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Showing his support: The Mirror reports that Zayn Malik has been in contact with former bandmate Louis Tomlinson privately to help him through his grief

Devastated: The Pillowtalk singer has reached out to his former bandmate (above) after his mother Johannah Deakin tragically passed away on Friday

An inside source close to the star told the paper: 'Zayn has been in touch with Louis privately, and will continue to offer his support that way.'

The showing of support comes after Zayn did not appear at the X Factor on Saturday to watch Louis perform his new single Just Hold On, despite the tragic news.

The Pillowtalk hitmaker remained in New York for work commitments, having appeared at the Billboard Women in Music Awards the night Johannah's untimely passing was announced.

Means the world: A source said: 'Zayn has been in touch with Louis privately, and will continue to offer his support that way' - after he did not attend Louis' X Factor performance on Saturday

Meanwhile sources revealed to MailOnline that bandmates Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Niall Horan had headed to the Wembley Arena to stand by Louis as he took to the stage for the performance - which he conducted in tribute to his mother.

Performing the new track with Steve Aoki, the star clearly fought back tears onstage, before thanking his fans on Twitter for their outpouring of support.

He wrote: 'Feeling so much love around me and my family. Mum would have been so f**ing proud ( sorry for swearing mum ) love you !...

Staying strong: The Pillowtalk star remained in New York during Louis' emotional tribute to his late mother, for working commitments such as the Billboard Women in Music Awards (above)

Brave: Louis wrote Twitter after the show: 'That was harder than I ever imagined. I want to thank everyone around me and all of the amazing fans out there that made that so special!'

All together now: Sources revealed to MailOnline that Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Niall Horan headed to the London show to back the star following his tragic news

'That was harder than I ever imagined. I want to thank everyone around me and all of the amazing fans out there that made that so special!' 

Judge Simon Cowell also made a touching tribute to the singer on the show, stating: 'Louis, I have to say I've known you for six years. The bravery of what you've done. I respect you as an artist, as a person and your mum was so proud of you and she was so excited for the performance. She's looking down on you tonight.' 

While Zayn - who famously fell out with Louis following his departure from the group - remained absent at the appearance, he had already taken to Twitter on Friday to pen his support.

Friends: While Zayn - who famously fell out with Louis following his departure from 1D - remained absent at the appearance, he did take to Twitter on Friday to pen his support

He wrote: '@Louis_Tomlinson love you bro! All of your family is in my prayers. proud of your strength and know your mum is too x' (sic).

Following his message of support, Zayn made an appearance at the Billboard Women in Music Awards at Pier 36 in NYC.

The singer cut a dapper figure in a black blazer and white shirt worn with grey tweed trousers and black Chelsea boots. 

Stylish: Following his message of support, Zayn was seen arriving at the Billboard Women in Music Awards at Pier 36 in NYC on Friday

The former 1D star also displayed a trendy new haircut combining shaved sides with lengthier locks on top. 

The tweet came after news broke on Friday that Louis' mother Johannah Deakin died after a battle with leukaemia at the age of 43.

Zayn's public feud with Louis Tomlinson began after he left the band in March 2015 and began working with producer Naughty Boy. 

 Cutting a cool figure: The singer cut a dapper figure in a black blazer and white shirt worn with grey tweed trousers and black Chelsea boots

Showing support: The appearance comes after the star showed his support for former bandmate Louis on Twitter, after he made the heartbreaking announcement on Friday

Last May Zayn shocked fans after telling Louis to stop making 'b****y' comments about his life as he was no longer a member of the chart-topping boyband, after Tomlinson became embroiled in an ugly Twitter spat with Naughty Boy.

Then last November Zayn blasted One Direction's music as 'generic as f**k' in an interview with Fader magazine.

Shortly afterwards Louis revealed on the Jonathan Ross show that they hadn't spoken in a while, adding: 'I think he wants to distance himself a little bit.' 

Reaching out: The former One Direction star fell out with Louis following his departure from the group

Hitting out: Last May Zayn's public feud with Louis began after he stepped to back Naughty Boy after Tomlinson became embroiled in an ugly Twitter spat with the producer (pictured)

Living life: Zayn was later seen heading out in NYC after the glamorous event

Moving on: However their feud reaches back to 2014, when Zayn was the only member not to attend Johannah's wedding - proving his latest tweet a definite move to heal their relationship

In January this year Zayn appeared to extend an olive branch after he congratulated Louis on the birth of his son.

But their feud may have reached back as far as July 2014, when Zayn was the only band member not to attend Johannah Deakin's wedding. 

However Zayn's latest move appears to have been a definite move to heal their long-standing feud.

Showing his support: Zayn took to Twitter to voice his support for Louis

Heartbreak: Louis Tomlinson's mother Johannah Deakin has died after a battle with leukaemia at the age of 43

On Friday news broke that Louis' midwife mother had passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, it was confirmed in a statement to MailOnline.

As well as One Direction star Louis, 24, she leaves behind six other children, Lottie, 18, Felicite, 16, twins Daisy and Phoebe, both 12, and twins Ernest and Doris, both aged two, who she gave birth to prematurely in 2014. She was also grandmother to Louis' ten-month-old son Freddie.

Louis will perform at the X Factor final on Saturday night in tribute to his late mother. The performance was previously scheduled, with Johannah said to be looking forward to seeing her son back on the stage where he first shot to fame

The statement released to MailOnline on Friday reads: 'It is with immeasurable sadness that Johannah Deakin's family said goodbye to Johannah in the early hours of Wednesday 7th December 2016.'

'Earlier this year Johannah was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of leukaemia that required immediate and continuous treatment.

'We respectfully request that the family are given time and space to grieve in private.' 

Beloved: Two weeks ago Louis, who lives in Los Angeles to be near to his son Freddie, shared an Instagram photo with his mother, alongside the caption: 'My mother looking gorgeous before the Brits earlier this year. I love you and miss you so much!'

Doting son: Louis was best man at his mother's wedding to Dr Dan Deakin in July 2014

Johannah's husband Dan Deakin added: 'Johannah was first and foremost a truly amazing mother to seven children – Louis (24), Lottie (18), Félicité (16), and two sets of twins, Phoebe and Daisy (12) and Ernest and Doris (2) - whose individual talents and success are testament to the principles and beliefs she instilled in them. She was also an incredibly proud grandmother to Freddie.

'Incredibly selfless, she would always look to put other people before herself. She desired nothing more than for everyone around her to be happy and loving. She worked tirelessly on numerous charity campaigns, creating memories for many individuals and their families.'

'It wasn't uncommon for Johannah to hear through the media of an individual in need of assistance, and she would immediately make it her objective to get that person what they often desperately needed, and rarely without success.'

Family: As well as Louis she leaves behind six other children, Lottie, 18, Felicite, 16, twins Daisy and Phoebe, both 12, and twins Ernest and Doris, both aged two, who she gave birth to prematurely in 2014. She was also grandmother to Louis' ten-month-old son Freddie

Married: In 2013, Johannah announced her engagement to Doctor Dan Deakin and that the couple were expecting twins

'These are the things that made Johannah happy and content in life, and all of which for me made her simply the perfect wife and best friend to face each day with.'

'I thoroughly loved walking through life with her, and though five years was far too short a time, during that time we had so many lifetimes worth of happiness, adventures, and memories.'

'We would like to send our sincere thanks to Professor Steve Mackinnon and his team at University College London Hospital where Johannah was hospitalised since May. And during the last few weeks Professor John Snowden and his colleagues at Royal Hallamshire Hospital Sheffield.' 

Mum of seven: Johannah gave birth to her youngest children - her twins Ernest and Doris two years ago

Selfless: Johannah's husband Dan called his wife: 'Incredibly selfless, she would always look to put other people before herself'

Campaigns: 'It wasn't uncommon for Johannah to hear through the media of an individual in need of assistance, and she would immediately make it her objective to get that person what they often desperately needed, and rarely without success,' Dan added

Two weeks ago Louis, who lives in Los Angeles to be near to his son Freddie, shared an Instagram photo with his mother, alongside the caption: 

'My mother looking gorgeous before the Brits earlier this year. I love you and miss you so much!' 

Five weeks ago, in what was her last Instagram post, Johannah shared a shot of her One Direction singer son alongside the simple caption: 'My perfect boy.'

Her Instagram profile reads: 'Mummy to 7 stars & 1 little grand star.' 

Johannah's 16-year-old daughter Felicite tweeted on Thursday night, sharing a heartbreak emoji. 

In 2013, Johannah announced her engagement to Doctor Dan Deakin and that the couple were expecting twins.

Their wedding in July 2014 saw her son as best man, while Louis' band mates, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Niall Horan all attended. 

Born Johannah Poulston on March 25 1973, she grew up in Doncaster in South Yorkshire.

She worked as a midwife and a TV assistant during her career.

Johannah gave birth to Louis when she was 18, but split from his biological father Troy Austin, in 1997 when he was aged just five.

She then had four children with Mark Tomlinson, who Louis considers his real father, -  Charlotte, Felicity and twins Phoebe and Daisy. 

Condolances: Celebrities have offered their condolances to Louis and his family on Twitter, with Cheryl, the girlfriend of Louis' bandmate Liam Payne, tweeting on Friday

Tributes: Ronan Keatin and Piers Morgan were among the first to pay tribute to Johannah and her family online

Johannah worked as a midwife and a TV assistant during her career

Johannah and second husband Dan Deakin had twins Ernest and Doris on February 10 2014. 

Devoted to her family, Johannah told Sugarscape that she couldn't have been more proud of her eldest child, Louis. 

Calling him 'a really nice lovely brother,' she went on to say that the 1D star always offered to pay for his sister's trips at school.

'He always asks me, 'Tell me what trips they've got, where do they want to go? Let me use my money to pay for their trips','  Johannah said.

'He's always been like that. he's not a materialistic person himself, but he likes to give people things. He spoils me and the girls and he's happiest doing that.'

Proud: Devoted to her family, Johannah told Sugarscape a few years ago that Louis 'spoiled' her and his younger sisters (pictured)

Daughter: Johannah's 16-year-old daughter Felicite tweeted on Thursday, the day after Johannah's death, sharing a heartbreak emoji

Celebrities have offered their condolances to Louis and his family on Twitter, with Cheryl, the girlfriend of Louis' bandmate Liam Payne, tweeting on Friday: '@Louis_Tomlinson my heart breaks for you. I am so sorry. My thoughts are with you and your loved ones at this incredibly tragic time.'

Zayn Malik, who quit One Direction last year, tweeted: '@Louis_Tomlinson love you bro! All of your family is in my prayers. proud of your strength and know your mum is too x'.

Louis also spoke about their close relationship, revealing that when his mother split from her second husband in 2011 just as his career with One Direction was taking off, she would send him up to seven texts a day. 

Admitting he was worried for his mum, who remained in the family's hometown of Doncaster, while he was travelling the world, Louis said: 

'It must be so much harder for her because I am living this fantastic life, whereas she's still in that old life but without me. She always says that I'm like one of her best friends so it must be really difficult for her to not get upset and not miss me so much, I'm so far away.'

Eldest: Johannah was supportive of her son's globe-trotting career and visited him at his new home in Los Angeles regularly 

Family time: Johannah was devoted to supporting her family and others, reaching out to children in need online and through charity work with her son

In January Sarah Hext revealed how Johannah and Louis supported her family when her nine-year-old son died from a rare form of cancer.

Ms Hext told the Huffington Post that the 1D star and his mother changed her son's life before his death in November 2015, after Sarah and Johannah met at a charity event in 2014.

Explaining that Louis and his mother created 'precious memories' with the youngster and his twin brother Spencer, who were both born with Down's Syndrome, Ms Hext revealed that the family attended events as Louis' guests and were treated to a trip to Disneyland.

'Louis and Johannah have given us precious memories with Harvey and all of our children and that is priceless, we have so many beautiful photos of Harvey to look back on in some amazing places,' Sarah told the publication.

'People don't know the real Louis, Jay has told me that when Louis suffers a bad press day he says to her 'come on mum, let's make someone happy today.' That's the kind of man Louis is,' Sarah said, adding: 'Louis Tomlinson is very grounded, he is family orientated and both Louis and Jay hold a very special place in my family's hearts.' 

Good deeds: In January Sarah Hext revealed how Johannah and Louis supported her family when her nine-year-old son died from a rare form of cancer

Grandmother: Johannah was a grandmother to Louis' son Freddie, who was born in January and lives in Los Angeles with his mother Briana Jungwirth

Talented: Louis' sister Lottie Tomlinson, 18, is a beauty blogger and makeup artist