Zayn Malik gets candid about becoming a dad and avoiding public romance: 'I’m not doing things for other people’s approval'

Zayn Malik opened up about fatherhood, dating, and privacy during an appearance on the podcast Call Her Daddy. The singer — now a parent and years removed from the peak glare of pop stardom — spoke candidly about what scared him, what freedom felt like after long relationships, and why he does not want a romance that plays out for the cameras. He also used the moment to preview new music.

Zayn Malik talks fatherhood and life after long relationships

In the interview aired on the Call Her Daddy podcast, hosted by Alex Cooper, Zayn said he became a dad at 27 and remembers the anxiety that came with stepping into parenthood for the first time.




“I was very nervous finding out that my girlfriend was pregnant,” he said. “I was kind of just expecting a lot of things to happen that didn’t.”

The conversation then turned to his relationship history. When asked about the scariest part of being alone after years of serious relationships, he gave an answer that cut through the usual narrative of sadness.

“No disrespect at all, it was free,” Zayn said. “I can’t really get in trouble that way. You know, I tend to get in trouble in relationships too. Because I was young, I did certain things. You know, spoke to other females when I shouldn’t have been.”

Why Zayn Malik avoids public relationships

Zayn made it clear he is not eager to revisit a high-visibility relationship. He described a lifestyle he does not chase and pushed back against how social media can distort reality.

“No, I’m not the type of dude that likes to go to five-star Michelin restaurants every night and get pictured,” he said. “People use that, and social media, to put forward a false portrayal of whatever their life is. And it usually stems from insecurity, right? I’m not doing things for other people’s approval.”

He also offered a simple rule for handling criticism: “You can’t keep everybody happy. Some people are going to like you, some people are not. At the end of the day, I think it’s more important to like yourself.”

Before the segment ended, Zayn teased new music on the spot. “Alright, who wants to hear my next single? ‘Die for Me.’ Here it is.”

The latest update is that Die for Me has been released as the lead single from his newly announced album KONNAKOL, which is due on April 17, 2026. Tour plans have also been revealed.

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