Zayn Malik is reportedly concerned that footage of him allegedly punching former One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson and making a derogatory remark about Tomlinson's late mother could be leaked. The incident is said to have occurred in October during the filming of a three-part road trip in the US for Netflix.
According to a source cited by The Sun, the altercation was captured on camera. “The moment Zayn hit Louis and made a derogatory comment about his mum Johannah was all filmed. Zayn and Louis know footage exists and the production company has it,” the source said. “If it became public, it could be beyond damaging for Zayn’s image.”
The alleged punch left Tomlinson with a concussion, and he required medical treatment. Malik was reportedly wearing rings at the time, which cut Tomlinson's head. The two have not spoken since the incident, and Tomlinson’s sisters, Phoebe and Lottie, have unfollowed Malik on Instagram.
Netflix has since scrapped the multi-million-pound project, which was intended to focus on the former bandmates bonding over shared memories of pop fame. The documentary’s director, Nicola Marsh, shared The Sun's report on Instagram, commenting, “And there goes the last year of work.”
Representatives for Netflix, Tomlinson, and Malik have been contacted for comment. Last week, Malik revealed he was in hospital recovering from an undisclosed health issue, expressing gratitude to fans and medical staff.
