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Louis Tomlinson unfollows Zayn Malik after reported punch-up

Close-up of Louis Tomlinson on the left with light brown hair and blue eyes, and Zayn Malik on the right with dark hair, brown eyes, and a beard, both wearing black.

Published by Cover Media

19 Apr 2026

Louis Tomlinson has unfollowed Zayn Malik on Instagram following a reported altercation.

Tomlinson's social media move comes one day after The Sun splashed with an alleged physical altercation between the former One Direction bandmates.

The incident reportedly occurred while the duo were filming their unnamed three-episode docuseries. Malik allegedly punched his ex-bandmate in the face during a heated clash, during which Malik had made a remark about Tomlinson's late mother, Johannah Deakin

Reports suggest the incident left Tomlinson concussed, and the fate of the planned Netflix series remains uncertain.

The series planned to follow Tomlinson and Malik as they "embark on a road trip across America in a spontaneous adventure of reconnection, exploration and a lot of laughter," according to a 2025 press release.

Tomlinson has unfollowed Malik on Instagram as of Saturday. His sisters, Phoebe and Lottie, are also no longer following the Pillowtalk singer. Tomlinson is still following his other One Direction group members, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and the late Liam Payne.

Meanwhile, Malik has been hospitalised after suffering a mystery health scare.

The star cited an unspecified illness as the reason he's been forced to cancel some fan events linked to the release of his new album, Konnakol.

Alongside a photo of himself sitting in a hospital bed, Malik wrote on Instagram: "To my fans, thank you to all of you for your love and support now and always. Been a long week and am still unexpectedly recovering."

Tomlinson and Malik met in 2010 when they appeared on the talent show X-Factor and were paired with Styles, Horan and Payne to form One Direction. They subsequently shot to global superstardom, remaining a fivesome until Malik's departure in 2015.

Published by Cover Media

19 Apr 2026