Zayn Malik: Former One Direction star embroiled in heated 'homophobic' row outside NYC bar
ZAYN MALIK has been seen exchanging insults with a man who confronted the singer outside a packed New York bar.
Zayn, 28, lives in New York City with Zayn Jawad Malik, 28, his long-term girlfriend, Gigi Hadid, 26, and their daughter, Khai, nine months.
Bradford-born Zayn has kept a relatively low profile since making the decision to leave One Direction in 2015.
Despite this, he found success as a solo artist, releasing three solo albums, with his first release, Mind of Mine, achieving number one in both the UK and US.
The Pilottalk singer was seen shirtless in video footage obtained by TMZ after a man appeared to attack her.
Sources claim that the incident took place outside the Amsterdam Billiards Club in New York's East Village.
It is said that Malik was smoking a cigarette outside the bar when a group of men came out of the neighborhood bar and things got heated.
Video footage obtained by TMZ shows a shirtless Zayn standing at the bottom of the scaffolding, while a man raises a fist and pounces on the star, exclaiming: "Who the f**k you?!"
An unknown woman and man come inside, separating the two.
Sources told TMZ that the man who confronted Zayn used the homophobic F-word to insult the singer.
However, it is said that no punches were thrown and the New York City Police Department was not involved.
Speaking to Page Six, a co-owner of the Amsterdam Billiards Club said: "Zain is here a lot and we like him a lot."
He continued: "He was here playing pool and ping-pong with a bunch of people for a few hours, and there was no problem.
"I heard [a fight] started over someone wanting a picture, but I'm not sure, it turned out."
It is said that Zayn's girlfriend Gigi Hadid was not present during the incident.
The singer announced in September that Gigi had given birth to her daughter, describing her as "healthy and beautiful."
Nowadays, he divides his time between being a doting father and recording music in the evenings.
Speaking on the Zack Song podcast, Malik said: "I've spent a lot of time with my little girl and my missus.
"When I can get to myself in the evening I write a little bit and [Gigi] is really cool about it."
He said that he related his album to his daughter as "it's part of you and you want to share it with your world".