- Former One Direction star Zayn Malik says he has tried to use dating apps like Tinder since his split from model Gigi Hadid – but that he was banned after fellow app users accused him of impersonating himself
- The singer opened up about his split from Little Mix star Perrie Edwards in the candid interview with Nylon magazine
- According to sources, Malik also reportedly wants to reunite with his former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson
After being part of the world’s biggest boy band, you’d think that Zayn Malik would have no trouble at all finding love.
But his quest to find The One hasn’t been as fruitful as he would have hoped – as the singer says was kicked off Tinder!
In a new interview with NYLON magazine, Malik, 31, admitted, “Everyone accused me of catfishing,” he said. “They’re like, ‘What are you using Zayn Malik’s pictures for?’ I’ve been kicked off once or twice. It’s not been too successful for me, I’ll be honest.”
However, while he may not have had much luck, Malik – who shares a three-year-old daughter, Khai, with his ex-girlfriend Gigi Hadid – shrugged, “I’m really content and happy with being single for the first time in my life.”
The Pillow Talk singer also opened up about his past relationship with Little Mix star Perrie Edwards in the candid interview.
The couple dated for four years, before Malik called off their engagement in 2015. He started an on-off relationship with Hadid later that year, before splitting in late 2021.
“From 17 to 21, I was in a relationship. I was engaged and [planned to get] married and I didn’t know anything about anything at that point,” Malik explained. “I thought I did, because I was 21. I was legally allowed to do everything, but I didn’t know sh*t. From 21 to 27, I was with Gi, and we had a kid, and I didn’t really take much time to get to know myself.”
He continued, “I lived a very chill life in [my home town of] Bradford [, UK]. I never really had a girlfriend. My parents were kind of old-school, so I never brought a girlfriend home or anything,” he says. “When I got the chance to do that, I jumped straight in, two feet first, and was like, ‘I’m going to have a girlfriend, and she’s going to live with me. This makes me a grown man.’
“It’s probably wise to take your time before you fully invest in another human being as a lifelong partner.”
‘Zayn wants to approach One Direction for forgiveness and friendship’
Elsewhere this week, sources told how Malik is reportedly desperate to reunite with his former One Direction bandmates.
The star sensationally quit the group – which also consisted of Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Niall Horan – in 2015, during both a world tour and the height of their fame.
In a statement at the time, Malik penned, “My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band.
“I’d like to apologize to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart. I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world.”
Later admitting there were “underlying issues within our friendships” and “we’d got sick of each other”, Malik now allegedly wants to put their differences behind them.
The source told Mail Online, “He doesn’t know if it will ever happen, or when, but he would love to start a conversation with the other guys from One Direction and try to make amends with all of them. He is trying to figure out the best way to reach out because it will be odd, weird, and uncomfortable, but it is something that has been on his mind.”
They added, “Zayn wants to approach them for forgiveness and friendship. Working with them is not important to him right now. He has matured and wants to show the rest of the guys this. To be friends again would be amazing.”
