A new Netflix documentary about former One Direction members Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson has been overshadowed by rumors of a physical altercation between the two stars. Nicola Marsh, the director of the upcoming docuseries, appeared to address the speculation in a recent social media post.
Marsh shared a screenshot of a British tabloid with the headline "Louis Punched by Zayn" on her Instagram Story, captioning it, "And there goes the last year of work." The post, captured by The Independent, suggests the alleged incident occurred during filming of the project.
"And there goes the last year of work," wrote director Nicola Marsh on her Instagram Story, referencing tabloid reports of a physical fight between the former bandmates.
Adding fuel to the rumors, fans noticed that Tomlinson has unfollowed Malik on Instagram, though Malik continues to follow Tomlinson. Tomlinson still follows other former One Direction members Harry Styles and Niall Horan, as well as the account of the late Liam Payne.
This isn't the first time tensions have surfaced between the two musicians. Their relationship became strained after Malik's departure from the band in 2015, leading to a public social media exchange. In a 2022 interview, Tomlinson admitted he hadn't fully moved past their past conflicts, saying, "I don't think I'm mature enough to get over what's frustrated me in that relationship."
Despite their complicated history, the pair appeared to put differences aside in 2024 when they joined other former bandmates to honor Liam Payne after his death. They released a joint statement expressing devastation over Payne's passing and describing their memories with him as "treasured forever."
Representatives for both Malik and Tomlinson have not responded to requests for comment about the alleged fight. Malik was recently hospitalized for an undisclosed health issue, though it's unclear if this relates to the rumored incident.