Zayn Malik has opened up about the shock accusation that he pushed ex-partner Gigi Hadid's mother during a confrontation in 2021.
The former One Direction star revealed to Alex Cooper on the Call Her Daddy podcast that he wanted to protect his daughter from a "negative back and forth" as he spoke out on the feud between him and Yolanda Hadid, reports the Mirror.
Zayn - who shares daughter Khai with model ex Gigi - denied striking the Real Housewife star at the time as the 59-year-old was filing a police report.
It was alleged that the reported incident between Zayn and Yolanda took place at the singer and Gigi's farmhouse in Pennsylvania in November 2021.
At the time of the incident, Gigi reportedly wasn't present when Yolanda visited her granddaughter Khai "without calling beforehand or even knocking at the door".
The Bradford-born star also discussed his battle with anxiety on the podcast, as well as having 50% custody of his daughter, leaving One Direction in 2015 and his upcoming new solo single.
Towards the end of their interview, host Alex Cooper says to Zayn: "I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't ask about the 2021 incident. I know you can't really speak on it. Obviously, as a man, there was a lot out there said about you and you basically took the high road and didn't say anything about it.
"How do you balance when something is out there about your character that people are reading and people are speculating about. How do you decide when to speak about it?"
Zayn replies: "For me, like what we were talking about earlier, I don't tend to get involved when people say things online, whether it's something to do with me or not, because for me the most valuable thing I have in life is time and that takes so much time in a toxic environment, to explain yourself to people and justify this...
"I just kind of keep to myself. I knew what the situation was, I knew what happened and the people involved knew what happened too. That's all I really cared about. If anybody of a sane mind would look at the situation I believe you could respect that I just didn't want to bring attention to anything.
"I didn't want to get into a negative back and forth with her or [create] a narrative online where my daughter was going to look back at and read into it. There was no point."
He added: "I believe I dealt with it in the best way, in an amicable, respectful way and that's all that needs to be said. I feel it's a lot of negativity. If something happens in a family, I'd rather keep that in the family – we don't need a whole audience of people and opinions. It's hard enough to handle with two."
Alex then explains how she uses her platform and podcast as a place to "support women" but wanted to hear from Zayn herself. She then adds: "You've already said today you have 50% custody [of your daughter] so anything we've read online, if that was true it would have affected that?
"Exactly," Zayn replies, as Alex asks: "Unless you can correct me, you don't have to have people with you when you see your daughter or visitation rights?" "No, no, nothing," Zayn quickly replies. "I'm super full on - I'm hands on with my child every chance I can be. If I could have 60% [custody] I'd have it.
Following reports of the allegations emerging in November 2021, Zayn said in a statement: "I adamantly deny striking Yolanda Hadid and for the sake of my daughter I decline to give any further details and I hope that Yolanda will reconsider her false allegations and move towards healing these family issues in private."
He then took to social media to issue a further statement, telling his fans online: "As you all know I am a private person and I very much want to create a safe and private place for my daughter to grow up in. A place where private family matters aren't thrown on the world stage for all to poke and pick apart.
"In an effort to protect that space for her, I agreed to not contest claims arising from an argument I had with a family member of my partner's who entered our home while my partner was away several weeks ago." A representative for Gigi said at the time: "Gigi is solely focused on the best for Khai. She asks for privacy during this time."
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