Perrie Edwards has opened up about the emotional turmoil she experienced after her split from ex-fiancé Zayn Malik, alleging that he 'overlapped' their relationship with model Gigi Hadid. The Little Mix singer, 32, who was with the One Direction star from 2011 to 2015, recalled suffering 'serious breakdowns' following the breakup.
Heartbreak and Feelings of Abandonment
Speaking on Jamie Laing's podcast 'Great Company', Edwards described the heartbreak as 'hellish'. 'You can't eat. You can't sleep. You feel horrendous. You feel abandoned and you don't feel good enough and you feel like you've been left for something better,' she said. The singer added that the public scrutiny made it worse, saying, 'I felt like the world was then looking at me, laughing at me.'
The Alleged Overlap
Edwards claimed that Malik moved on quickly, with his debut single 'Pillowtalk'—written about her—featuring Hadid in the music video. 'There was a bit of an overlap,' she explained. 'When you're moving on with somebody else you always get on better. When you're the one left behind, that's when it's hard.'
Malik and Hadid were first linked in late 2015 after attending Justin Bieber's American Music Awards after-party. They later welcomed daughter Khai before splitting in 2021.
Coping with the Aftermath
Edwards recalled finding out about the new relationship as 'the nail in the coffin'. She admitted to having 'serious breakdowns', breaking down during performances and feeling depressed. 'I was breaking down in performances, which isn't like me at all. I was crying constantly. I think I was depressed,' she said.
Despite the pain, Edwards had to remain strong for Little Mix. 'I had to be there for the girls. I had to be switched on. I had to power through for Little Mix, but I also just wanted to be left the f*** alone,' she stated.
Moving Forward
Edwards is now happily engaged to footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with whom she shares son Axel, four, and daughter Alanis, four months. Metro has contacted representatives for Zayn Malik for comment.
