Zayn revealed he is uncertain that he’s ever been in love (Picture: YouTube)
Zayn Malik has opened up about his relationships with some of his famous exes and revealed that he isn’t sure if he’s ever been in love.
The former One Direction star, 31, who is set to perform his first-ever headline show this year with a brand new album, appeared on several talk shows and podcasts to promote his new music.
Zayn has opened up in a way that is completely unfamiliar to fans of the supremely private star who has had high-profile relationships but has struggled with the limelight throughout his career.
The artist has now spoken openly about dating and claimed that he’s uncertain if he’s ever really experienced ‘being in love’.
‘When you ask me what is love is I think the reason that’s hard for me is that I don’t know if I’ve actually truly been in love at this point.’
He clarified: ‘I don’t know how you know what love is, that’s a real deep question.
‘It’s hard you know, I think love comes in many different forms. [Being] in love with somebody is a whole different kind of complicated – there are so many variables to it, you can never really pinpoint what is love,’ he said on The Zack Sang podcast.
The comment is perhaps surprising from the Pillowtalk singer who had a high-profile relationship with Gigi Hadid, the mother of his daughter Khai.
The popstar and the model dated between 2015 and 2021 and had their first and only child together in September 2020.
The couple split in 2021, with reports that Zayn ‘shoved’ Gigi’s mother Yolanda in a confrontation. In September 2021, the ex-1D member pleaded no contest to four counts of harassment against Yolanda.
The parents both speak frequently about their daughter Khai but have chosen to keep her out of the spotlight and also rarely make comments about each other in public.
Gigi and Zayn dated for six years (Picture: FilmMagic)
Zayn also dated Little Mix star Perrie for many years (Picture: BBC)
The singer was also previously engaged to Little Mix star, Perrie Edwards.
The couple met in 2011, began dating in 2012, got engaged in 2013, and split in August 2015.
Zayn reportedly broke up with the Shout Out to My Ex singer on text and since their breakup nine years ago, the former couple has had very little to say about one another.
The artist spoke at length about his life and beliefs on the podcast (Picture: YouTube)
During the interview, the Fool of Me singer also spoke about the end of a relationship that he experienced with an unnamed ex.
‘The first song that I wrote on the record was Alienated, and it was towards the end of my relationship. Like when me and my ex were breaking up. So there’s the heavy narrative of the kinds of things I was going through mentally in that situation and what I was thinking and how I was feeling.’
He also said that his song How It Feels was also about a breakup.
‘I think in that song specifically I’m talking about not being able to explain to the person that you’re in love with why it is that you necessarily can’t be the best version of the partner you want to be.
‘And that’s a really sad thing,’ he explained.
The singer hasn’t performed live in years (Picture: C Flanigan/FilmMagic)
In 2023, Zayn’s mother revealed his relationship status and said: ‘He’s not even in the dating game. It’s all about Khai and then his work.’
As the recent interview would suggest, his daughter, his farm, and his new album are his top priorities at the moment, as he clarified that he’s not searching for love, but open to it happening.
Zayn’s fourth album, Room Under the Stairs, is set to be released on May 17.
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