Boy band group One Direction turns five today. Despite Zayn Malik leaving the group unexpectedly over the year, the boys took to social media to express their gratitude to each other, their family, fans worldwide, and even to Malik.

There is no bad blood among the boy band members despite an unfortunate turn for the Directioners when Malik announced he was leaving the five-boy band, E! Online reported.

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While the group posted their own greetings and thanksgiving to the people special to them during their fifth anniversary, it was the Twitter post of Liam Payne that caught media and fans attention as he made a shout out to post-1D member Malik.

He tweeted, ""Wowwwww 5 years 5 boys what an amazing journey I couldn't thank you all ever enough and thank you Louis Niall Harry and zayn for everything."

To this, Malik quickly replied, "@Real_Liam_Payne thanks bro!"

The exchange couldn't make die hard One Direction fans any happier, the news site reported.

In a report by The Daily Mail in May, Liam revealed that Malik left the group because he wanted to spend time with his fiancé Perrie Edwards confirming speculations the actress was the reason behind his decision. Since Malik left, die hard One Direction fans have blamed the blonde for their heart break.

In the same interview, Malik said he simply wanted to live "as a normal 22-year-old."

The young boy band was discovered by producer Simon Cowell in July 2010 at "X Factor." Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik auditioned as solo performers for the TV talent show. Ironically, they failed but Cowell saw their potential as a boy band, People reported.

In celebration of their fifth anniversary, People posted a throwback video of the show's very first performance as a boy band. 

TagsOne Direction, 1D, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne