By Eili Cordova
The relationship between Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, two of the former members of One Route, could be going through a new and complicated moment. According to recent reports, what was supposed to be an emotional professional reunion to record a documentary series ended in an alleged physical altercation that would have led to the cancellation of the project.
The first public sign of this new distance occurred last Saturday, April 18, when Tomlinson stopped following Malik on Instagram. Unlike what happened with his former partner, the “Partitions” singer continues to follow Harry Styles, Niall Horan and the late Liam Payne. Tomlinson’s sisters, Phoebe and Lottie, also unfollowed the “Pillowtalk” singer, while Malik still follows Tomlinson on the social network.
This distancing in networks coincides with reports from the British media The Sun, which claims that both artists were involved in a strong argument during the filming of a three-part docuseries for Netflix. The project, described as a spontaneous road trip across the United States, promised to be an adventure of reunion, exploration and laughter, where the former bandmates would reflect on their time in the band, the separation and the tragic death of Liam Payne in October 2024.
However, according to the publication, the tension escalated to the point that Malik hit Tomlinson. The incident, which occurred approximately six months ago, would have caused the immediate cancellation of the series. The director of the project, Nicola Marsh, known for her work on Demi Lovato’s Youngster Well-known particular person, shared a post (now expired) in which she wrote: “And there goes the last year of work,” in reference to the alleged altercation. Representatives for the artists and Netflix have not responded to requests for comment.
This new chapter is especially striking for the band’s followers, since the creative reunion between Malik and Tomlinson is seen as an important step to overcome old grudges. The tension between the two dates back to 2015, when Malik left the band amid a series of disagreements on social media. However, two years later, Tomlinson claimed that they had overcome their differences, stating that they could rejoice in each other’s success.
In fact, the relationship seemed to have improved noticeably in recent months. Following Liam Payne’s funeral, which was attended by all former One Route members, Tomlinson was seen in January 2025 at one of the concerts on Malik’s Stairway to the Sky tour. During that presentation, Zayn himself addressed the audience to point out: “An old friend of mine is here supporting me tonight. I don’t want to reveal where he is, but Louis is here.”
The future of the docuseries is uncertain. Meanwhile, Malik announced last Friday that he is recovering “unexpectedly” after being hospitalized for an unspecified illness, which has forced him to cancel several appearances. “It hurts me a lot not to be able to see you all this week,” he wrote to his followers.
For now, neither Tomlinson nor Malik have made official statements about the alleged incident or the status of their relationship. One Route’s followers are once again waiting to know if this new chapter of tension will lead to reconciliation or if, on the contrary, it deepens a wound that seemed closed.
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