Zayn Malik has just delivered one of the most jaw-dropping celebrity confessions of the year. During a candid February 11, 2026 appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, the former One Direction star admitted that his headline-making romance with Gigi Hadid may not have been love after all. The revelation immediately sent fans spiraling, especially given how iconic their relationship once seemed in the world of pop culture.
Now 33, Malik reflected on comments he previously made in 2024 about questioning whether he had ever truly been in love. Pressed on the topic again, he explained that his definition of love has evolved over time. What he once believed was love in his early twenties, he now sees differently. Looking back, he suggested it may have been passion or lust rather than something deeper and lasting. With striking honesty, he admitted that if he had truly been in love, he likely would have shown up as a better partner.
Malik and Hadid began dating in November 2015 when he was 22 and she was 20. Their romance played out in the public eye, marked by several breakups and reconciliations before they welcomed daughter Khai in September 2020. The couple ultimately split for good in October 2021. Despite his reassessment of their romantic connection, Malik made it clear he will always care about Hadid because she is the mother of his child and someone he respects deeply.
But the interview wasn’t all heavy reflection. In one of the most viral moments, Malik shared a parenting story that quickly took over social media. When five-year-old Khai lost her first tooth, he left an eye-popping $700 under her pillow from the tooth fairy. According to Malik, Hadid was far from impressed with the over-the-top gesture. He joked that he may have gone too big and teased that the tooth fairy is now “broke,” scaling back future payments to just $5.
The anecdote offered a rare glimpse into their co-parenting dynamic—two successful, high-profile parents navigating everyday disagreements like any other mom and dad. Hadid, now 30, has been linked to Bradley Cooper since late 2023 and has publicly described her relationship with Malik as grounded in mutual respect and teamwork when it comes to raising their daughter. She has said they plan custody schedules months in advance and prioritize stability for Khai.
Meanwhile, Malik is gearing up for a major return to music. His fifth solo album, Konnakol, drops April 17, 2026, with a UK and North American arena tour launching in May. Still, it’s not just his music making noise right now—it’s his raw honesty about love, growth, and fatherhood that has everyone talking. For anyone who has ever looked back on a relationship from their twenties and wondered what it really meant, his confession hits uncomfortably close to home.
