Zayn Malik reflected on his previous romantic involvement with Perrie Edwards, nearly ten years after they parted ways in a new interview.
The singer-songwriter dated Edwards between 2012 and 2015, when he was 31 years old. Their relationship, which began during their time on the X Factor, culminated in an engagement that ultimately ended after over three years of togetherness.
In subsequent conversations following their split, both individuals have addressed the breakup.
Malik, who departed from One Direction prior to parting ways with the Little Mix star, recently revisited the topic. He reflected on his mindset at the time, admitting to feeling inexperienced and "jumped right in."
In the interview with Nylon magazine, he alluded to his past romantic involvement with Edwards by revealing that he had been in a committed relationship throughout his late teenage years.
"I was engaged and [planned to get] married and I didn't know anything about anything at that point. I was legally allowed to do everything, but I didn't know s--t."
Malik, who left One Direction before parting ways with the Little Mix star, recently revisited the topic. Reflecting on his time in Bradford, the "Pillowtalk" singer revealed that he had led a relaxed life and had not been in a serious relationship before.
"When I got the chance to do that, I jumped straight in, two feet first, and was like, 'I'm going to have a girlfriend, and she's going to live with me."
The dad-of-one shared his perspective on how certain experiences shaped his perception of maturity. His journey also saw him enter a dynamic relationship with model Gigi Hadid. The ex-couple, parents to their three-year-old daughter Khai, navigated through a period of being together and apart before ultimately going their separate ways in 2021.
The British singer acknowledged that he may have rushed into another significant relationship without fully exploring his own self-discovery after his previous romance with Edwards.
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Edwards previously indicated that Malik had decided to break up with her through a text message. The Little Mix singer disclosed their relationship dynamics in the band's book, Our World, released in 2016.
"A four-year relationship, two year engagement ended by a simple text message. Just like that. Even though things in my career were going really well, it was incredibly difficult for me."
Just prior to the announcement of their breakup, rumors surfaced that Malik had been unfaithful to Edwards during their vacation. . Despite initial reports, a representative for Malik promptly refuted the allegations.
Malik also revealed that he is currently experiencing being single for the first time. He expressed feeling genuinely content and joyful in this new chapter of his life.
Meanwhile, Edwards is happily engaged to footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 30, and they are parents to their two-year-old son, Axel.
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