Zayn Malik claims he faced racism during One Direction days: ‘I worked hard in a white band’

Former One Direction star Zayn Malik claims he faced racism during his days with the “white band” in a scathing new song.

Zayn Malik seemingly alleged he faced racism in One Direction on his new song, Fuchsia Sea.

The Pillowtalk singer took to Instagram on Sunday to share a snippet of the track, on which he raps, “Got my back against the wall so much they think I got a brick fascination / Do you remember every conversation?

“‘Cause I have been conscious of every connotation / And while they concentrate on their elevation / I’ve got a round trip to the constellation / I’m a convert to the concert, and I did that for inflation, ‘cause I worked hard in a white band, and they still laughed at the Asian.”

Malik, 32 — whose father is Pakistani and mother is of English and Irish descent — shared that he would be releasing the track soon.

Fans already couldn’t get enough of the sneak peek.

“I am so proud,” one person gushed, as another wrote, “king is back.”

“He’s back,” a third celebrated, “we won.”

Reps for the pop star weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.

Zayn Malik claims he faced racism in One Direction on his forthcoming track, Fuchsia Sea.

Malik raps about working “hard in a white band” in the lyrics. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

One Direction was formed in 2010 with Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne, who died last year.

The five members of the British boy band initially auditioned separately on X Factor before being put together by judges Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh.

Malik announced his departure from the band in 2015. The rest of the members went on an indefinite hiatus the following year and embarked on solo careers.

Prior to Payne’s death, Styles had hinted that the group could potentially return for a reunion during an appearance on The Late Late Show in April 2023.

With bandmates (from left to right): Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Malik, Liam Payne and Harry Styles in 2013. Picture: FOX Image Collection via Getty Images

“Yes or no, will there be a One Direction reunion? Will it ever happen?” host James Corden asked, to which the “Watermelon Sugar” singer responded, “I fear that it’s not a yes or no question.”

“I think I would never say never to that. If there was a time when we wanted to do it, I don’t see why we wouldn’t,” Styles, 31, added.

An insider also told Us Weekly in December 2024 that the group was “in talks to do one last reunion show” before Payne passed away.

Malik, meanwhile, has slowly been resurfacing after retreating from the spotlight following his 2021 split from model Gigi Hadid, with whom he shares a 4-year-old daughter, Khai.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Zayn Malik claims he faced racism during One Direction days: ‘I worked hard in a white band’