However, actions do tend to speak louder than words, and Zayn has now shown off a brand new tattoo, thought to have been inked since he and Perrie parted ways.
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Zayn Malik
Interestingly, the new design is of a lotus flower, often associated with new beginnings and rebirth - as unsubtle a message as there ever has been, right?
Fans of the former One Direction singer, who made headlines the world over when he announced he had quit the band back in March, will probably remember that he tweeted a photo of a lotus flower on top of a piano earlier this week (a Twitter post which, frankly, we’re still trying to decode).
The lotus tattoo is the latest in Zayn’s ever-expanding repertoire of body art, which includes several skulls, a pair of wings on his chest and the image of a woman on his right arm who, awkwardly, is thought to be based on Perrie.
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Zayn and Perrie in happier times
Earlier this week, Little Mix were seen trying to cheer up their bandmate, while promoting their single ‘Black Magic’ in America.
They were young, in love and engaged before they weren't. While Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder were dating, the actor famously tattooed the words "Winona Forever" to his right upper arm. Sadly the relationship did not last forever and when they broke up in 1993, Depp changed the tattoo to read "Wino Forever." (credit:Getty)
Kat Von D(02 of18)
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She thought their love would last forever, so Kat Von D got a tattoo of then-fiance Jesse James as a young boy under her arm. While the artwork will last a lifetime, their relationship ended in July 2011 (though their romance was rekindled a month later). (credit:Getty / TLC)
Kathy Griffin(03 of18)
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Tattooing a wedding band on your ring finger is a good idea in theory, but it makes it awfully hard when the marriage ends. When comedian Kathy Griffin divorced her husband of five years, Matt Moline, in 2005, she also removed her permanent wedding ring. We're not sure which hurt more. (credit:Getty)
Christina Aguilera(04 of18)
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The "Voice" coach got the phrase "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" tattooed on her lower back in honor of her then-husband Jordan Bratman, along with his initials. While she was once her beloved's, she is no longer. The couple announced their split in the fall of 2010. (credit:Getty Images)
Eva Longoria(05 of18)
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The "Desperate Housewives" actress decided to get her wedding date (07-07-07) tattooed in Roman numerals on her wrist in honor of her husband, basketball star Tony Parker. While 7s are supposed to be lucky, the number wasn't on their side. The couple filed for divorce in November 2010. (credit:Getty Images)
Rihanna(06 of18)
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At least they didn't tattoo each other's names. Rihanna and former boyfriend Chris Brown decided to get matching tattoos of stars -- hers on the back of her neck, his behind his ear. When the pair ended what turned into a violent relationship, Rihanna decided to keep her tat, and added several more stars to the design. (credit:Getty)
Angelina Before(07 of18)
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Angelina Jolie had "Billy Bob" tattooed on her left shoulder. She was married to Billy Bob Thornton from 2000 to 2003. (credit:Getty)
Angelina After(08 of18)
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She has since had the tattoo removed and covered with the coordinates of the birth places of each of her and Pitt's children, adding an additional line with Pitt's birthplace in spring 2011. Thornton turned his "Angelina" tattoo into an angel.
Blake Fielder-Civil(09 of18)
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Blake Fielder-Civil got "Amy" inked behind his ear... (credit:Getty)
Amy Winehouse(10 of18)
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And Winehouse's left lapel said "Blake's." However, the relationship didn't last. The pair split up in July 2009, and Winehouse passed away just two years later. (credit:Getty)
Levi Johnston(11 of18)
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Bristol Palin's baby daddy, Levi Johnston, had her named inked around his ring finger. Palin and Johnston broke up for good in July 2010. (credit:Getty)
Denise Richards Before(12 of18)
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Denise Richards had "Charlie" tattooed on the inside of her left ankle. She and Charlie Sheen were married from 2002 to 2006. (credit:Getty)
Denise Richards After(13 of18)
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After their ugly divorce, "Charlie" became a colorful fairy -- on her leg. (credit:Getty)
Russell Brand (14 of18)
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Russell Brand has reportedly removed or covered up the Sanskrit tattoo he got with then-fiancee Katy Perry in 2010. The couple divorced after only 14 months of marriage and Brand is reportedly erasing all memory of their romance from his life. (credit:Rolling Stone/ Getty)
Jordan(15 of18)
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British tabloid staple and former Playboy model Jordan has now-estranged hubby Peter Andre's name inside her wrist
Marc Anthony(16 of18)
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When Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez called it quits after seven years of marriage, the singer was left with nothing but two adorable kids, memories of their love and a "Jennifer" tattoo on his right wrist.We weren't shocked when Anthony decided to say goodbye to the ink, but we were surprised to learn he got a tattoo of the Statue of Liberty as a tribute to his new girlfriend, Venezuelan model Shannon De Lima, and his newfound "freedom," right where his old tattoo used to be. (credit:Getty)
Megan Fox(17 of18)
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A tattoo disaster avoided! Megan Fox got the first name of her now-husband, former "90210" star Brian Austin Green, inked on her torso. The on-and-off couple called off their engagement in February 2009 but were married in Hawaii in July 2010. (credit:Getty)
Britney Spears(18 of18)
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Britney Spears and Kevin Federline were once madly in love, and what better way to express those feeling than through matching tattoos! The couple got matching sets of dice on their wrists -- his in blue, hers in pink -- in May 2004. The couple divorced in 2006. (credit:Getty)