Did Nick Jonas Diss Zayn Malik With 'Two Directions' Joke at Nickelodeon 2015 Kids' Choice Awards?

During Nickelodeon's 2015 Kids' Choice Awards, host Nick Jonas tried his hand at topical humor with a One Direction joke. Following Zayn Malik's exit from the band to pursue a solo career, Jonas attempted to make light of the situation when he teased, "It was a tough week. A lot of girls are struggling after One Direction became two directions." The former Jonas Brothers front man continued, "What's next? 4th Harmony? 3 Seconds of Summer? No, no. The Jonas Brother?" Probably a harmless joke from one former boy band member to another, but Malik's fans seem to suspect Jonas was dissing Malik and his fans, or predicting the ultimate demise of teen pop groups.

According to Hollywood Life, Jonas' joke might have come too soon for distraught One Direction fans. Though probably well-intentioned, Jonas' comment unleashed the wrath of violently loyal Directioners who have taken to Twitter to bash the former teen star. Fans shot back at Jonas' decision to leave his own teen boy band, splitting off from his brothers Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas to launch a solo career.

NICK JONAS MAKING JOKES ABOUT ONE DIRECTION GOING "TWO DIRECTIONS" BUT HIS OWN BAND WENT THREE DIRECTIONS. AND THEY WERE HIS OWN BLOOD. bye

— Zucchini Harry (@HarrySpicyTaco) March 29, 2015

nick jonas: "one direction became two directions" says the one who left his blood brothers and went solo — mira loves z (@cityburnmalik) March 29, 2015

i can't believe nick jonas tried to be funny about zayn leaving one direction when he was the one that left his ACTUAL brothers band — ashley (@donkasterlou) March 29, 2015

Despite the backlash from rabid Directioners, it seems unlikely that Jonas was trying to cut down Malik and his fans. If anything, Jonas probably relates to Malik's decision to leave One Direction, which Malik had reportedly been carefully considering for some time. "It's always tough," Jonas told E! News, "You know, there's never an easy time to make a decision like that. I commend him for doing what he feels is right for him and you got to stay true to yourself. Jonas added, "I feel for the One Direction fans and I hope they're doing OK, but you know, it's one of those things, that sometimes it's just time to close a chapter."