A New Chapter for Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik
Louis Tomlinson has taken a significant step in his relationship with former One Direction bandmate Zayn Malik by unfollowing him on Instagram. This move comes amid reports of an alleged altercation that occurred behind the scenes during the production of an unreleased Netflix docuseries featuring the two artists.
As of Saturday, Tomlinson is no longer following Malik on Instagram, although he continues to follow other former bandmates such as Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and the late Liam Payne. Malik, on the other hand, does not seem to have reciprocated the gesture, as Tomlinson remains one of just 17 accounts that Malik follows on the platform.
The incident reportedly took place six months ago, when Malik allegedly punched Tomlinson after he made a remark about Malik’s late mother. Tomlinson’s mother passed away from leukemia in December 2016 at the age of 43. The situation escalated to the point where Netflix decided to scrap the documentary last month, as it appeared the pair could not reconcile for the filming.
The Independent has reached out to Netflix and representatives for both Malik and Tomlinson for further comment. Meanwhile, the series’s director, Nicola Marsh, shared The Sun’s front page on her Instagram story and commented: “And there goes the last year of work.”
The Unreleased Netflix Series
Reports of the Netflix series first emerged in October last year, with a description stating that episodes would feature the pair discussing their experiences of fame, personal lives, fatherhood, and their careers. However, the project was ultimately abandoned due to the reported conflict between the two musicians.
Zayn Malik’s Recent Health Issues
News of the scrapped series comes as Malik recently faced health challenges. He was admitted to the hospital on Friday, the same day as the release of his new album, Konnakol, for undisclosed reasons. Malik shared a picture of himself in a hospital gown wearing what appears to be a blood pressure cuff, and expressed gratitude to his fans for their support.
“Been a long week and am still unexpectedly recovering,” the singer wrote. “Heartbroken that I can’t see you all this week, I wouldn’t be in the place I am today without you guys and am so thankful for your understanding.”
Malik also thanked the hospital staff, including doctors, nurses, cardiologists, management, and admin, calling them “legends.” He had been scheduled to appear at a venue in Kingston, London, on April 13 for a special One Night Only show playing new tracks from his new album, but had to postpone due to illness. He is set to begin his world tour at the AO Arena in Manchester on 12 May.
Louis Tomlinson’s Current Tour
Tomlinson is currently on tour and will play his first UK date at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester on 24 April, in support of his latest album, How Did I Get Here?
A History of One Direction
Tomlinson and Malik first met on the British talent competition The X Factor in 2010 before being grouped as One Direction by Simon Cowell, alongside Styles, Horan, and Payne, who died in October aged 31 after falling from a hotel balcony.
The band operated for five years until 2015, when Malik left under acrimonious circumstances and launched a solo career. His relations with his fellow bandmates were fraught after his departure, but he and Tomlinson had appeared to have rekindled their friendship in recent years.
