Louis Tomlinson Unfollows Former One Direction Bandmate Zayn Malik amid Reported Documentary Series Drama

Bailey RichardsSat, April 18, 2026 at 7:24 PM UTC

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Louis Tomlinson; Zayn MalikCredit: Karwai Tang/WireImage; Raymond Hall/GC Images -

Louis Tomlinson has unfollowed Zayn Malik on Instagram amid reports of drama during their Netflix documentary series filming

Tomlinson is not following Malik as of April 18, but is following all three of his other One Direction bandmates

The Sun reported that a physical altercation allegedly took place behind the road trip-focused series; the show's director shared the report

Louis Tomlinson has unfollowed Zayn Malik amid reports of drama behind the scenes of their docuseries.

It is unclear exactly when the unfollow occurred, but as of Saturday, April 18, Tomlinson, 34, is not following his former One Direction bandmate Malik, 33, on Instagram. The “Lemonade” singer is still following their fellow boy band members Harry Styles, Niall Horan and the late Liam Payne.

Malik does not appear to have reciprocated, however, as Tomlinson remains one of just 17 accounts that Malik follows on Instagram.

Two of Tomlinson’s sisters, Phoebe and Lottie, have also unfollowed the “Pillowtalk” singer, but are still following all three of their brother’s other former bandmates. (The Sun was first to report this news.)

Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson for their Netflix docuseriesCredit: Dennis Leupold

Representatives for Tomlinson and Malik did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on April 18.

News of Tomlinson unfollowing his friend and former bandmate comes amid reports of an altercation behind the scenes of the pair’s Netflix documentary series, which was first announced in October 2025. The three-part series was set to follow Tomlinson and Malik on a road trip across the United States.

The Sun reported that while filming the unnamed series — directed by Nicola Marsh and produced by Campfire Studios — there was a physical altercation between the two stars, which resulted in Malik allegedly punching Tomlinson.

Marsh later shared a post highlighting The Sun’s report about the alleged altercation on Instagram Stories, according to screenshots shared by multiple outlets, including The Independent.

The fate of the docuseries is currently unknown. Campfire Studios did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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Louis Tomlinson and Zayn perform with One Direction in 2014Credit: Jeff Kravitz/OneD/Getty

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A press release announcing the series last fall stated that in the three-episode show, Malik and Tomlinson would "embark on a road trip across America in a spontaneous adventure of reconnection, exploration and a lot of laughter.”

Fans could expect to watch the musicians "opening up about life, love, loss and fatherhood,” the release stated.

The pair first met as members of One Direction on The X Factor in 2010, when they were grouped together alongside Styles, 32, Horan, also 32, and Payne, who died at 31 in October 2024.

One Direction in 2012Credit: Sam Ruttyn/Newspix/Getty

Tomlinson and Malik were bandmates until the latter’s departure from One Direction in 2015. Shortly after, the duo got into a heated exchange on X (formerly Twitter), but appeared to have rekindled their friendship at the time of the docuseries announcement. They also reunited at Payne's funeral, along with Styles and Horan.

Tomlinson previously said that his late mom, Johannah Deakin, wanted him to reconcile with his former bandmate.

"My mum said, ‘You’ve got to get back in contact with Zayn. Life’s too f---ing short,' " he told The Sun in 2017, noting that the “Dusk Till Dawn” singer was "just a little misunderstood."

"We really care about each other,” Tomlinson said at the time. “I could always break the rules a little bit with Zayn… it was that brotherly love. We will always have that love for each other."

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”