Zayn Malik has shared a rare picture of his daughter Khai, five, during a summer outing, in a recent Instagram post. The former One Direction member posted the photo as rumors circulate that his ex-partner, Gigi Hadid, has secretly married actor Bradley Cooper. Malik, 33, was seen holding Khai's hand in the picture, part of a broader series of personal updates shared on Thursday that also included images of him barbecuing and showcasing a new buzz cut.
Malik and Hadid welcomed Khai in 2020, with the couple parting ways the following year. Hadid and Cooper, who were first linked romantically in 2023, have recently fueled speculation about a marriage after they were observed wearing gold bands on their ring fingers during a public appearance in Paris earlier this month. Reports suggest the couple may have quietly married in New York a month prior.
A source told The Sun that a dinner celebration attended by Cooper and Hadid in New York was rumored to be related to a wedding, and the subsequent sighting of wedding bands has intensified these whispers. "Now they have been seen out with wedding bands on, it seems like they quietly got married. They make a lovely couple," the source claimed.
Malik infrequently features Khai on his social media. In February, he discussed fatherhood on the podcast "Call Her Daddy," recounting an incident where he gave Khai £500 after she lost her first tooth. He mentioned that Hadid admonished him for the amount but defended his actions, stating he works hard and wants to provide for his child. He acknowledged that he might be overcompensating, driven by a desire to offer his daughter experiences he did not have himself.
During the podcast, Malik also revealed Khai's interest in becoming a K-pop star. He expressed a hope that his daughter pursues her happiness, even if it leads her into the music industry, though he personally would prefer to shield her from the potential difficulties associated with such a career.
Last year, Hadid spoke about her co-parenting relationship with Malik to Vogue, describing their arrangement as planned months in advance and highlighting mutual support and camaraderie. She noted that they have approached this phase of their partnership with respect. The pair's romance ended after an altercation involving Malik and Hadid's mother, Yolanda Hadid, which resulted in Malik receiving probation and being mandated to attend anger management and domestic violence programs.