Zayn Malik finds freedom in being single: ‘I’m cool with myself’

Host Alex Cooper welcomed back English singer Zayn Malik for a candid and deeply personal conversation on the ‘Call Her Daddy’ YouTube podcast last Wednesday, February 11.

The hour-long interview felt relaxed and unfiltered, with the former One Direction member opening up about everything from his new hobbies to fatherhood and his present life.

Zayn, 33 shared that he’s been enjoying leisure activities lately, like gardening and wood carving, hobbies that reflect the slower and more grounded lifestyle he now prefers.

Much of the conversation also touched on his role as a dad to his five-year-old daughter, Khai. Zayn spoke warmly about fatherhood, making it clear that being a parent is one of the most important parts of his life today, and that he has learned a lot since becoming a father.

When Cooper asked about his relationship status, Zayn answered honestly. He said he isn’t dating anyone right now, though he didn’t deny that he’s talking to someone and has tried using a dating app. 

It’s been a while since his breakup with model Gigi Hadid, the mother of his child, and he’s taking his time before getting into a serious relationship again.As the conversation shifted to love and past relationships, Cooper brought up a previous quote from their past interview three years ago on the same channel, where Zayn said he wasn’t sure he had ever truly been in love.

“You said in an interview that you don't know if you've ever truly been in love. Do you still stand by that?” she asked.“Yeah,” Zayn answered abruptly. “Because my understanding of love is always developing. At that moment in time, I might have thought it was love, but as I got older I realized maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was lust. Maybe it was this, maybe it was that. I don’t feel like it was love.”

He admitted that he feels the same way about his six-year relationship with Hadid. Still, he made it clear that there is deep respect there. “To be fair, just to say this on the record, I will always love G [Gigi], because she is the reason my child is on this Earth, and I have the utmost respect for her,” he said.

 “I will always love her, but I don’t know if I was ever in love with her. I do love her a crazy amount, but no, I don’t think I was in love with her at that point. Otherwise, I would have been a better version of myself,” he added thoughtfully.

Though he didn’t mention his other ex-girlfriend Perrie Edwards in the recent podcast, Zayn also reflected on his history of high-profile romances. After years of dating in the public eye, he admitted that that kind of setup simply doesn’t work for him.

"I'm not looking for a public relationship again," Malik said. "Just out of experience. No offense to anybody that I have been in public relationships before. I've just learned that it doesn't work for me."

He continued, "I'm quite a private person. I don't really strive for people's approval or attention, so the relationship should really be between me and that person. I think that personality type, somebody who doesn’t want to do that, would be more suited to me.”

Zayn Malik dated Perrie Edwards for four years and ended their relationship despite being engaged at the time. His relationship with Gigi Hadid lasted six years, and she even appeared in Malik’s music video for his debut single, Pillowtalk. 

Both of Malik's  highly publicized relationships shaped his perspective on love and why he now prefers to keep his personal life private. These days, Zayn seems content with where he is. He’s focused on being a co-parent, enjoying a simple routine at home, and pouring his energy into music.

He’s currently preparing for a 2026 world tour and is set to release his fifth studio album, KONNAKOL, on April 17. The lead single, Die for Me has already been released.

When Zayn was asked what was the scariest part of being alone for the first time, he answered honestly, “I don’t find being alone scary. I’m cool with myself. I like my own thoughts. I like to do things [by] myself, and I like to be in my own company," he added.

For Zayn, being single right now isn’t about loneliness—it’s about freedom, growth, and independence. At this stage of his life, his priorities are simple: his daughter, his craft, and protecting his peace.