Newsdeck

Newsdeck

Zayn loves America and might want to run for office

epa06601700 (FILE) - Zayn Malik (L) and Gigi Hadid arrive on the red carpet for the 2016 Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art celebrating the opening of the exhibit 'Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology' in New York, New York, USA, 02 May 2016. According to media reports citing the social media accounts of Hadid and Malik on 13 March 2018, the couple broke up after a two year relationship. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE

British pop star Zayn Malik says he has been startled by the welcoming spirit of the United States and might even consider running for office in his new home.

The former One Direction heartthrob said he was “a bit shocked” at first by the friendliness of Americans and felt that the country was being “misrepresented across the globe.”

“No matter what color, what gender, what sexuality, what class — none of that matters here. People genuinely want to know you for who you are. And that’s how America should be represented across the world,” the 25-year-old singer told GQ in the fashion magazine’s latest issue.

Asked if he would consider running for office himself, he said: “Maybe. It’d be cool. I feel like it’s a beautiful place.”

Zayn, who has gone only by his first name since launching his solo career, is partially of Pakistani descent and is one of the most visible Muslims in Western pop music.

After leaving One Direction in 2015, Zayn moved to Los Angeles and more recently New York as he shifted style sharply from the squeaky clean boy band, singing R&B-infused tracks heavy on sex appeal.

His arrival in the United States coincided with the rise of President Donald Trump, who during his campaign called for a ban on Muslims entering the country.

But Zayn said that one effect of the political climate is that Americans are “expressing how they really feel about where they come from and their heritage and their backgrounds.”

“So that’s how I feel about it — it’s a beautiful place, and it’s a beautiful time to be alive.” DM

Gallery

Please peer review 3 community comments before your comment can be posted

We would like our readers to start paying for Daily Maverick...

…but we are not going to force you to. Over 10 million users come to us each month for the news. We have not put it behind a paywall because the truth should not be a luxury.

Instead we ask our readers who can afford to contribute, even a small amount each month, to do so.

If you appreciate it and want to see us keep going then please consider contributing whatever you can.

Support Daily Maverick→
Payment options

Every seed of hope will one day sprout.

South African citizens throughout the country are standing up for our human rights. Stay informed, connected and inspired by our weekly FREE Maverick Citizen newsletter.