Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik: A Timeline of Their Relationship

Credit: Will/MEGA; Shutterstock; Courtesy Gigi Hadid/Instagram; Shutterstock

Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik: A Timeline of Their Relationship

Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik have been through a whole lot since their off-and-on relationship began. The former One Direction singer announced the arrival of the couple's first child, daughter Khai, in September 2020. “Our baby girl is here, healthy & beautiful,” Malik wrote via Twitter at the time. “To try put into words how i am feeling right now would be an impossible task.” Us Weekly confirmed in April 2020 that the model and the British crooner were expecting their first child. “She’s always wanted to start a family with Zayn,” a source told Us exclusively of the then-pregnant star. Hadid and Malik’s romance started in a very traditional way in November 2015. “I just asked her [out]. It was pretty straight-up,” he recalled on SiriusXM’s The Morning Mash Up in December 2016. “A gentleman never tells the full details! But, yeah, we met and we spoke, and we went on a date.” Two months later, the singer premiered the music video for his debut solo single, “Pillowtalk,” and it starred none other than his new girlfriend. The budding couple continued to publicize their relationship that spring, appearing in an April 2016 spread for Vogue and making their red carpet debut at the Met Gala weeks later. [jwplayer 2jXKP2NK-zhNYySv2] Hadid and Malik broke up for the first time in June 2016, but they were back together within a matter of days. From that point forward, their romance was full steam ahead — at least for a few years. “We try not to think about [dating in the spotlight] too much,” the former boy bander told Us exclusively in September 2017. “There are a lot of people who are too busy in other people’s lives. I just concentrate on my relationship and try to do right by my girlfriend and she does by me, and we hope for the best, as we all do!” The pair called it quits for the second time in March 2018, but once again, the breakup didn’t last very long. They reunited a month later, only to go their separate ways one last time in January 2019. During their yearlong break, Hadid had a two-month fling with The Bachelorette alum Tyler Cameron. Malik, meanwhile, wrapped up the promotional campaign for his album Icarus Falls and laid low the rest of the year. Us broke the news in January 2020 that the lovebirds were back together again after “trying to make it work” for several months. They welcomed Khai nine months later, but multiple sources confirmed to Us in October 2021 that the pair split once again. Scroll down for a look back at Malik and Hadid's romance.

Credit: Will/MEGA

November 2015

Us exclusively reported in November 2015 that Hadid moved on with Malik after her split from Joe Jonas. “He thinks she’s so hot,” a source told Us at the time. “He takes interest in her shoots and videos she does. He thinks she’s sweet too. She talks about her mom a lot and her family, and he likes that.”

Credit: Vevo

January 2016

After they made out in his “Pillowtalk” music video, Malik confirmed on Zach Sang & the Gang in January 2016 that Hadid was his girlfriend. “[We] had a lot of fun on set,” he said.

Credit: Shutterstock

May 2016

The couple made their first red carpet appearance together at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala in New York City in May 2016. She wore a sheer Tommy Hilfiger gown over a silver bodysuit, while he wore a classic tuxedo with chrome armor over the sleeves.

Credit: Shutterstock

June 2016

Hadid and Malik called it quits on their seven-month romance in June 2016.

Credit: Shutterstock

June 2016

Five days after their breakup made headlines, a friend told Us exclusively, “[They] got back together almost right away.”

Credit: Shutterstock

December 2016

Malik joked about having a Fifty Shades of Grey-style sex life with Hadid on The Morning Mash Up in December 2016, telling the radio show’s hosts, “I like that!”

Credit: Vogue

August 2017

The power couple only had eyes for each other during their photo shoot for the August 2017 cover of Vogue, on which they wore colorful suits.

Credit: Courtesy Gigi Hadid/Instagram

January 2018

The runway star shared a black-and-white video of her shirtless beau via Instagram in January 2018, revealing that he got her eyes tattooed on his chest.

Credit: Shutterstock

March 2018

Hadid and Malik announced their second split in March 2018. He tweeted that they “had an incredibly meaningful, loving and fun relationship,” while she wrote that she wanted “nothing but the best for him and will continue to support him as a friend that I have immense respect and love for.”

Credit: MEGA/Said Elatab

April 2018

An eyewitness told Us exclusively in April 2018 that the musician kissed Hadid “on the cheek” during a “lovey-dovey” walk to his NYC apartment, sparking reunion rumors once again. However, he later told GQ, “We don’t need to put a label on it, make it something for people’s expectations. … I’m really thankful that I met her.”

Credit: MEGA

January 2019

The duo ended their relationship again in January 2019. A source told Us at the time that Hadid “tried hard to make it work,” but Malik had “a lot of his own issues that she couldn’t help him get through.”

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January 2020

After their longest break to date, an insider told Us exclusively in January 2020 that the couple “got back together” and were going “slow and steady” with their rekindled relationship.

Credit: Courtesy Gigi Hadid/Instagram

April 2020

Just days after her 25th birthday, news broke in April 2020 that the Los Angeles native was pregnant. “She and Zayn are so in love,” a source told Us.

Credit: Courtesy of Gigi Hadid/Instagram

July 2020

Hadid posted a rare selfie with Malik via Instagram in July 2020. “Baby daddy,” she captioned the photo, which showed the parents-to-be sharing a passionate kiss.

“Gigi and Zayn are so great for each other and balance each other out,” a source exclusively told Us at the time. “Her pregnancy has brought them even closer together as a couple.”

Earlier that month, the model showed off her bare baby bump for the first time during an Instagram Live. “Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, you didn’t look pregnant in your jumpsuit on your last Live.’ That’s because this way [facing front] I’m gonna look normally how I look in this [outfit],” she explained. “The reason I said it’s a different story is, like, there’s my belly, y’all. Like, it’s there. From the front, it’s different, you know what I mean?” She added: “I’m just taking my time with sharing my pregnancy, and you guys will see it when you see it. Right now I just want to experience it, and I just don’t wanna worry about waking up every day during my pregnancy and worry about having to look cute or post something.”

Credit: Courtesy Gigi Hadid/Instagram

September 2020

“Our baby girl is here, healthy & beautiful,” Malik announced via Twitter in September 2020 alongside a photo of his hand holding his newborn daughter's fingers. “To try put into words how i am feeling right now would be an impossible task. The love i feel for this tiny human is beyond my understanding. Grateful to know her, proud to call her mine, & thankful for the life we will have together x.”

The new mom later wrote via Instagram, “Our girl joined us earth-side this weekend and she’s already changed our world. So in love.”

Credit: Courtesy of Gigi Hadid/Instagram

October 2020

“Gigi and Zayn are loving parenthood and can’t get enough of their little girl,” an insider exclusively told Us in October 2020. “Things are going really swimmingly between them and they’re both so happy. Gigi is so excited to be a new mom and has been appreciating every moment.”

Credit: Courtesy of Gigi Hadid/Instagram

January 2021

Several months after her arrival, the couple confirmed their daughter’s name is Khai. While Hadid updated her Instagram bio to read, “Khai’s mom,” Malik secretly had his baby girl’s name tattooed on his wrist for months. 

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

March 2021

Malik’s “To Begin Again” collaborator, Ingrid Michaelson, sparked speculation that the twosome secretly wed when she referred to him as “married” on her Patreon live stream.

Michaelson later apologized via Instagram Stories: “I mentioned that he was married, and he’s not married. As far as I know, he’s not married. It was a mistake.”

Credit: Courtesy of Gigi Hadid/Instagram

April 2021

Hadid shared a glimpse at the birthday present her beau gave her for her 26th birthday on April 23, 2021.

“WOW @zayn 💘,” she wrote via her Instagram Story along with a photo of a magnificent floral bouquet in shades of pink, orange and yellow.

Credit: MEGA

April 2021

Hadid and Malik held hands in New York City at the supermodel’s 26th birthday party, which included a grilled cheese food truck and cheese-shaped cake.

Credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock; LaurentVU/SIPA/Shutterstock

July 2021

The former boy band star feels right at home with Hadid's family — but the transition took some time. "At first he was like, 'How do I get a word in edgewise?'" she told Harper's Bazaar in July 2021. "But now he is very comfortable. He speaks his mind. When he's in the middle of a family thing and everyone's like, 'Zayn, whose side are you on?' ... He's charming."

Credit: Mediapunch/Shutterstock

October 2021

Shortly after reports surfaced that the model’s mom, Yolanda Hadid, wanted to file a police report after an alleged incident with the “PillowTalk” crooner, Malik defended himself via Twitter on October 28.

"As you all know I am a private person and I very much want to create a safe and private space for my daughter to grow up in," the former One Direction member wrote at the time. "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."

Malik continued, "This was and still should be a private matter but it seems for now there is divisiveness and despite my efforts to restore us to a peaceful family environment that will allow for me to coparent my daughter in a manner in which she deserves, this has been 'leaked' to the press. I am hopeful though for healing for all involved with the harsh words shared and more importantly I remain vigilant to protect Khai and give her the privacy she deserves.”

The musician later denied “striking” the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum while speaking with TMZ, telling the outlet, “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."

Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock

October 2021

Multiple sources confirmed to Us that the pair called it quits after "having problems for a while." According to one insider, "[Zayn] continues to be very much involved in Khai's life. He and Gigi still care deeply for each other."

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

January 2022

Following the highly publicized drama, “Gigi and Zayn are getting along just fine,” an insider told Us, noting that their utmost concern is keeping things private for Khai's sake. “They’ve been in each other’s lives in some way or another for the past few weeks.”

Their coparenting relationship is "amicable," the source said. “There is no custody battle going on right now — they’re just trying to work things out as coparents.”

For his part, Malik is trying to prove that he is a “responsible father" to Khai.

Credit: Courtesy of Gigi Hadid/Instagram

September 2022

Hadid gave a nod to Malik when sharing a photo of the Peppa Pig birthday cake the duo got for daughter Khai on her 2nd birthday. "Our angel girl turned 2 today," the model wrote in an Instagram Story where she tagged her ex-boyfriend and Carlo's Bake Shop, a.k.a. the store that serves as the setting for Cake Boss.

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

March 2023

In an interview with London's Sunday Times, Hadid said she works when Khai is with Zayn. “You have a long life alongside this person,” she said of coparenting. "That she can be with both parents makes me very happy." 

Credit: Shutterstock (2) ; Petros Kouiouris/Represent/MEGA

March 2023

After being spotted with Selena Gomez in New York City, a source exclusively told Us that “Gigi has no problem whatsoever with Zayn dating. As long as he is happy and stable and continues to be a good coparent to [their daughter] Khai, she’s fine with whoever he goes out with.”