Zayn Malik is speaking candidly about how he views his past relationship with Gigi Hadid, offering a more nuanced perspective on love, growth and emotional maturity.
During a wide-ranging interview with Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper released on Wednesday, February 11, the former One Direction singer revisited remarks he made in 2024 about not being sure he had ever truly been in love. Malik, 33, previously told The Zach Sang Show, “I don’t know if I’ve actually truly been in love at this point,” a statement that sparked widespread conversation at the time.
Cooper, 31, asked Malik directly whether he still stands by that reflection. “You said in an interview that you don’t know if you’ve ever truly been in love. Do you still stand by that?”
“Yeah. My understanding of love is always developing,” Malik replied. “At that moment in time, I might have thought it was love, but as I got older, I realized maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was lust. Maybe it was this, maybe it was that. I don’t feel like it was love.”
Malik went on to clarify his feelings toward Hadid, emphasizing that while he questions whether he was “in love” at the time, his affection and respect for her remain strong.
“To be fair, just to say this on the record, I will always love G, because she is the reason my child is on this Earth, and I have the utmost respect for her. I will always love her, but I don’t know if I was ever in love with her.”
The singer, who shares 5-year-old daughter Khai with the supermodel, added further context to his remarks.
“I do love her a crazy amount, but no, I don’t think I was in love with her at that point.”
Malik and Hadid were first romantically linked in November 2015 after they were spotted together, according to Us Weekly. Over the course of their on-and-off relationship, the pair made several high-profile appearances together, including walking the Met Gala red carpet, and welcomed their daughter in 2020. Their relationship ended in 2021.
Multiple sources confirmed in October 2021 that the couple had split following reports that Malik allegedly “struck” Hadid’s mother, Yolanda Hadid, during an argument. Malik denied the allegations and later pleaded no contest to charges raised against him. He received 360 days of probation in connection with the incident.
Despite the public nature of the split, a source told PEOPLE at the time that Hadid believed their daughter “needs her dad” and that she intended to “co-parent in a civil way” with Malik.
Since their breakup, both stars have moved on publicly. Hadid has been linked to actor Bradley Cooper since Fall 2023, while Malik sparked dating rumors with Selena Gomez in March 2023 after the two were spotted together in New York City, reportedly holding hands and kissing.
Source: People