Zayn Malik has clarified a recent altercation where he was seen swearing at a crowd, insisting the individuals involved were not fans but stalkers. The 33-year-old former One Direction star was filmed telling someone to 'get the f**k out of my way' as he tried to leave a hotel and enter his car. The video, published by TMZ, shows Malik and a security guard struggling to open the car door against a pressing crowd. After he gets in, a female associate also has to ask the crowd to move so she can enter the vehicle.
Responding to Backlash
Malik took to the comments section of TMZ's video to set the record straight. 'Let's get the facts straight – the fans were and always are respectful and amazing,' he wrote. He explained that the problem was 'multiple fully grown men who were blocking the doors of the hotel and the car for 10 minutes, not letting us or security out.' The footage shows several women on the other side of the door, with one person holding up a camera to capture the moment. Malik continued: 'They are not fans. They are stalkers that show up wherever someone they want to meet is and do the same thing to everyone to try and to get content. It is not safe and not okay and they ruin it for the real fans.'
Support from Fans
In the comments, many fans supported Malik's right to set boundaries. One fan, Renay Shields, wrote, 'He did nothing wrong,' while DJ Ambrose commented, 'How else can he open the door?' This incident follows another recent altercation where a woman threw plastic cups at Malik during a Q&A session at Banquet Records in Kingston. He was exiting the stage when the woman reportedly lobbed two cups at him, forcing him to duck, and also allegedly spat at him. The woman was removed by security, and a spokesperson for Banquet Records told Metro: 'She behaved appallingly. Things may or may not escalate, but not something I can provide further comment on.' The spokesperson added: 'In all of our dealings with Zayn, he's been polite and respectful, but unfortunately, sometimes events don't run as planned. Most people, while understandably frustrated, will remember that as well as a household name artist, he's also a human, and I hope people continue to respect that.'
Tour Continues
Despite his health issues, Malik is back on tour and performed two nights at the O2 Arena in London over the weekend. He posted on Instagram: 'Night 1 LONDON 02!!! Big thanks to everyone that came out and turned up! That was epic !' He is set to continue his tour in South America next month, celebrating his new album Konnakol.
