Zayn Malik says he doesn’t think he was ever ‘in love’ with ex Gigi Hadid and reveals he’s sworn off having ‘a public relationship again’

Zayn Malik has said he doesn’t believe he was ever truly in love with Gigi Hadid, but he’ll always have affection for her, especially because of their daughter and the bond they share as parents.

The 33-year-old singer and the 30-year-old model had an on-again, off-again relationship for six years. They share a five-year-old daughter, Khai, born in 2020, but ultimately ended their relationship in 2021.

Even though they were together for a long time, singer Niall Horan shocked fans in a 2024 interview with Zach Sang when he revealed he’d never actually felt truly in love.

Oh my god, did you hear Zayn on the Call Her Daddy podcast?! He basically confirmed what he hinted at before – he said he thought he was totally in love, but now he’s realized… it wasn’t as intense as he originally believed. I’m devastated, but also, like, so intrigued by what he really feels now! It’s just… a lot to process.

When asked about his relationship with the Victoria’s Secret model, he shared that his idea of love is constantly evolving.

Looking back, I used to think it was love, but now I’m not so sure. It could have been just strong attraction, or something else entirely. I don’t believe it was actually love.

Zayn explained that although he and Gigi aren’t together romantically, he still loves her very much and always will, especially as she’s the mother of his child.

He wanted to make it clear that he will always have love and respect for G, because she is the mother of his child and he is grateful to her for that.

I care about her deeply and always will, but I’m not sure I was ever in love with her. I felt a very strong connection, but looking back, I don’t think it was romantic love. If it had been, I believe I would have acted differently and been a better person.

The ‘Die For Me’ singer also shared that he doesn’t want another highly publicized romance, explaining that past relationships haven’t been successful for him.

Zayn, who was with Perrie Edwards from Little Mix from 2012 to 2015 and was once engaged to her, also mentioned that he often had difficulties in relationships when he was younger.

He explained that he doesn’t want another highly publicized relationship, and based on past experiences – with no disrespect to those he’s dated publicly before – he’s avoiding it.

I’ve realized this just isn’t a good fit for me. I’m a pretty private person and don’t need a lot of attention or validation from others. I prefer a relationship that’s focused solely on a connection between two people.

I think someone with a different personality—someone who isn’t interested in that—would be a better fit for me.

He admitted he wasn’t looking to date anyone right now, saying he really enjoyed being single and the freedom it gave him.

Honestly, when he said he wasn’t afraid of being alone, it just… hit different. It wasn’t about dissing anyone he’s ever dated, not at all! He said it felt freeing, and I totally get it. It’s like he finally realized his own worth and doesn’t need anyone else to be happy. It’s… breathtaking, honestly. I just get him so much.

I’m someone who likes to live life at my own pace and be independent. That’s why having the freedom to do what I want, make my own plans, and even sleep in whenever I feel like it is incredibly liberating.

I used to have difficulties in relationships, mostly because I was immature and made mistakes – like talking to other women when I was already with someone. I’ve learned from those experiences, and now I don’t have to feel guilty about past behavior anymore.

Gigi recently shared details about co-parenting with Zayn in an interview with Vogue, offering a rare glimpse into their relationship.

Gigi explained that she and Zayn plan their schedules for caring for their child far in advance. While things sometimes need to be adjusted, they support each other and work together as parents.

I was so touched to hear her say that she and her ex are now in a place of genuine love and friendship. It’s really lovely to see they’ve managed to build that kind of positive connection after everything, and it feels so mature and healthy for both of them.

After a six-year relationship, Zayn and Gigi broke up following a disagreement with Gigi’s mother, Yolanda Hadid. As a result of the incident, Zayn was placed on 360 days of probation and required to attend both anger management and domestic violence programs.

Speaking about the situation, Gigi expressed her frustration with people assuming they understand everything just because they know a little bit. She added that they don’t feel obligated to share every detail of their lives with everyone.

Honestly, what matters most to me is that we continue to raise our daughter as a team. It’s about more than just being co-parents; it’s about the deep respect we have for each other and everything we’ve shared as a couple. That history is really important to me as we move forward.

She recently began dating Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper, who is 20 years older than her. They met at a children’s party in October 2023.

According to the Daily Mail, the Oscar-nominated actor reportedly asked both his and Gigi’s mothers for permission to propose to her later this year.

2026-02-11 21:05

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