Zayn Malik PUNCHED Louis Tomlinson after making remark about his late mum in huge bust-up during filming of Netflix show

ZAYN Malik punched ex One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson in the face during a vicious row — cutting his head and leaving him concussed.

The former pals’ bruising clash came as they filmed a three-part road trip.

Singer Zayn poses backstage at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Zayn Malik punched ex One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson in the face during a huge rowCredit: Getty
Singer-songwriter Louis Tomlinson poses backstage at "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."
Louis was cut on the head and left concussed – with the incident forcing the Netflix documentary to be scrappedCredit: Getty
Louis Tomlinson and his mother Johannah Poulston at the Believe in Magic Cinderella Ball.
The row was sparked by Zayn making a remark about Louis’s mum Johannah Deakin, who died in 2016Credit: Getty
Netflix has since axed the multi-million-pound project which had aimed to show them bonding over shared memories of pop stardom.

A source said: “Louis was stunned and in shock. Zayn was wearing rings so it cut his head. It happened outside in front of so many people.”

Sources told The Sun their astonishing on-set row was triggered by Zayn’s remark about Louis’ mum Johannah Deakin, who died of leukaemia in 2016.

A source revealed: “The lads were filming on location. Zayn started acting up and was mouthing off.

“It spiralled into a row then Zayn made a remark about Louis’ mum Johannah.

“Louis was stunned and in shock. As he went to move, Zayn then attacked him.

“Zayn punched him straight in the face.

“Because he was wearing rings it cut Louis’ head.

“He was pulled away and Louis was taken for medical treatment. He was left with a concussion. This happened outside in front of so many people. It was shocking.”

The Sun understands Louis and Zayn – who last night shared a picture of himself in hospital with a mystery illness – have not spoken since the incident six months ago.

It is understood Netflix finally decided to cancel the three-parter  last month, after hopes of the pair reconciling dwindled.

One Direction members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Zayn Malik making silly faces and posing for a group photo.
Netflix were making a three-part road trip documentary which aimed to show the former boyband bondingCredit: Getty
Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and a woman posing for a photo.
Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik had been spotted filming the ‘spontaneous adventure’ road trip in TennesseeCredit: Instagram
We told last October how Louis, 34, and Zayn had signed for the show and to be filmed discussing their lives and experiences of pop stardom.

It was hoped they might even open up  about the tragic death of bandmate Liam Payne, 31, in a hotel balcony fall in Argentina in October 2024.

The bust-up between Louis and Zayn happened when  filming reached Wyoming.

Insiders said that after receiving medical treatment, Louis left for the UK, while Zayn returned to his farm in Pennsylvania.

A source said: “What clearly hurt Louis the most was Zayn’s comment about his mother.

“Zayn knew how much Johannah means to Louis and his family.

“It made Louis so upset, it was clear there was no way he would ever return to filming with Zayn.”

“The decision was taken to axe the series.”

A source added: “Netflix had thought they’d hit the jackpot when Louis and Zayn agreed to film together.

“It was a big budget show, it cost millions to make.”

Neither Louis nor Zayn have ever spoken about the documentary or why it ended.

Bosses at the streaming giant had remained hopeful  the pair might   mend fences after a few months.

The   road-trip format also  meant producers could pick up at the same spot where filming had halted and edi  it so viewers might never know the difference.

The clash was particularly ­awkward for Netflix as they  had not officially announced the documentary was happening — despite our October exclusive.

It had whipped fans into a frenzy even though it was made clear from the start that the band’s biggest star, Harry Styles, would not be  taking part, nor would bandmate Niall Horan.

The three-part series was being directed by Nicola Marsh, the woman behind Demi Lovato’s 2024 documentary Child Star.

One Direction  sold more than 70million records worldwide at the height of their fame.

The lads became  superstars after auditioning for The X Factor and being turned into 1D  in 2010. They eventually finished third on the talent show.

Their love affair with the US began in 2011 when they flew to Malibu, California, to film the video for  debut single What Makes You Beautiful.

Louis, originally from Doncaster, spends huge amounts of time in the US as he has a   son, nine, with American stylist Briana Jungwirth.

Bradford-born Zayn, has lived there since 2018, when he moved  to be with his then-girlfriend, model Gigi Hadid.

Three years earlier, Zayn became the first to leave the band — exiting  part-way through their On The Road Again tour and  saying  he wanted to live as a “normal 22-year-old”  away from the spotlight.

Zayn poses backstage at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Zayn was the first member of One Direction to quit the band and branch out as a solo actCredit: Getty
Louis Tomlinson at Capital's Jingle Bell Ball 2025 in London.
Louis later fell out with Zayn on social media and their relationship has been strained sinceCredit: Getty
That May, Louis and Zayn fell out on Twitter, now X.

It started after singer Naughty Boy posted a selfie with Zayn captioned: “Replace this.”

Louis replied: “Remember when you were 12 and you used to think those Mac filters for your pictures were cool haha! Some people still do. Ha.”

Zayn hit back: “Remember when you had a life and stopped making bitchy comments about mine?”

One Direction announced an indefinite break in January 2016, as all five  tried solo careers.

Following her leukaemia diagnosis, mum Johannah urged Louis to make up with Zayn as  the pair had not  been speaking following their 2015 Twitter spat.

In an interview with The Sun following Johannah’s death in December 2016, Louis said: “My mum said, ‘You’ve got to get back in contact with Zayn.

“Life’s too f**ing short’. “A mother’s intuition is just f**ing  crazy. It always felt supernatural to me.

“My mum always knew what I was feeling and what I wanted.”
Of making up and putting their row behind them, Louis added: “I met up with him and it was nice.

“After that whole thing, it was that brotherly love. We will always have that love for each other. I can’t speak on behalf of him but we really care about each other.”

The pair supported each other at Liam Payne’s funeral in November 2024.

The following January, Louis was at Zayn’s Los Angeles concert.

Zayn told the audience: “Tonight is kind of special. An old friend of mine is here supporting me tonight.

“He’s sitting somewhere here. I don’t want to give his location away, but Louis is here tonight.”

Louis is due to kick off the UK leg of his How Did I Get Here? tour in Manchester next Friday.

He will play five more shows, finishing at London’s O2 Arena on May 3, before summer US gigs.

Zayn has also been touring but it is not known if he will perform in New York on Monday after he said he had fallen ill, see right.