Zayn Malik is responding to claims that he was rude to fans in a now-viral video.
“Let’s just get the facts straight — the fans were and always are respectful and amazing — the issue was the multiple fully grown men that were blocking the doors of the hotel and the car for 10 minutes not letting us or security out,” Malik, 33, wrote in the comments section of an Instagram video posted by TMZ on Monday, May 26.
“They are not fans they are stalkers that show up where ever [sic] someone they want to meet is and do the same thing to everyone to try to get content,” Malik continued. “It is not safe and not OK and they ruin it for the real fans.”
The video showed Malik leaving a hotel in Manchester, England, and pushing through a crowd of people standing at the door. Mailk appeared to tell a man to “get the f*** out of the way” while entering the backseat of a black suburban.
A security guard held the door open for Malik, but someone who worked with him could be heard asking, “Can you please watch out so we can open the door?”
Malik’s comment came in the early hours of Tuesday, May 26, and the singer was quick to receive support from fans.
Model Junaid Minshad also chimed in on the situation, sticking up for Malik.
“I can personally vouch that Zayn is a pretty calm and nice to his fans,” he wrote on Tuesday. “These are stalkers that are trying to get a reaction for content. Privacy and safety is important. People need to respect and understand his boundaries.”
Malik’s recent outing comes after he canceled several dates on his Konnakol Tour following a health scare.
The former One Direction member took to Instagram on April 17, sharing a photo from a hospital bed.
“To my fans — thank you to all of you for your love and support now and always. [It’s] been a long week and [I] am still unexpectedly recovering,” he wrote. “Heartbroken that I can’t see you all this week. I wouldn’t be in the place I am today without you guys. [I] am so thankful for your understanding.”
Details about his hospital stay were not released. By May 1, however, Malik shared another statement on social media announcing plans to significantly reduce his upcoming tour dates.
“To my fans: Thank you so much for all the support and love you’ve shown me on the album release and more importantly, your love, prayers and well wishes for my health,” he wrote via Instagram Stories. “I’ve felt it, and it means the world. I’ve been at home recovering, and I’m doing well and will be better and stronger than before.”
Malik added, “I’ve had to take another look at my schedule for the months ahead and have to reduce the number of shows on the KONNAKOL Tour. I want to make sure I still get out and see as many of you as I possibly can. I’m really looking forward to playing these shows for you, and I hope to see the rest of you around the world very soon.”
