ZAYN Malik punched ex-One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson in the face during a tense row on the set of their Netflix road trip documentary.
The clash left Louis with a cut head and concussion, forcing the streaming giant to scrap the multi-million-pound project.
Sources say the fight erupted after Zayn made a cruel remark about Louis’ late mum, Johannah Deakin, who died of leukaemia in 2016.
“Louis was stunned and in shock,” a source told The Sun. “Zayn was wearing rings so it cut Louis’ head. It happened outside in front of so many people.”
The documentary aimed to show the former bandmates bonding over their shared pop stardom experiences, with hopes they might even open up about the tragic death of bandmate Liam Payne in 2024.
Filming had reached Wyoming when the incident happened, with Louis leaving for the UK to receive medical treatment while Zayn returned to his Pennsylvania farm.
A source added, “What clearly hurt Louis the most was Zayn’s comment about his mother. Zayn knew how much Johannah means to Louis and his family.”
Netflix had high hopes for the series, which cost millions and was directed by Nicola Marsh, known for Demi Lovato’s 2024 documentary Child Star.
Neither Louis nor Zayn have publicly addressed the documentary or the fallout from the fight, and the pair have not spoken since the incident six months ago.
The streaming giant had hoped for a reconciliation but ultimately decided to axe the series last month after talks broke down.
Louis, who has a nine-year-old son with American stylist Briana Jungwirth, divides his time between the UK and US, while Zayn has lived in the US since 2018.
The feud marks another low point in their strained relationship, which first soured when Zayn left One Direction in 2015 and later spilled onto social media.
The cancelled show was set to be a rare glimpse into the lives of two of pop’s biggest stars, but instead, it ended in a bitter bust-up that fans won’t forget.
