Zayn Malik speaks publicly about Bucks County criminal harassment charges from an altercation with Gigi Hadid’s mother, Yolanda

British pop star Zayn Malik spoke publicly this week about criminal harassment charges he faced in 2021 after an altercation with model Gigi Hadid’s mother, Yolanda, in their Bucks County home, calling his handling of the situation “amicable and respectful.”

Malik faced four criminal harassment charges and pleaded no contest in Bucks County Magisterial District Court. According to court documents, Malik had been arguing with Yolanda on Sept. 29, 2021, when he used expletives to demand she “stay away” from Khai, his daughter with Gigi. Malik then shoved Yolanda Hadid into a dresser, according to the documents.

Malik was placed on nearly a year of probation during which he was forbidden from contacting Yolanda, and he was ordered to take an anger management class and complete a domestic violence supervision program. Court documents show that the case has since been closed, meaning his probation has ended.

On the “Call Her Daddy” podcast episode, posted Wednesday, Malik said he wanted to avoid bringing further attention to the incident by talking about it online, and feels that he “dealt with it in the best way.”

“If something happens in the family, I’d rather keep that between the family because you don’t need a whole audience of people and opinions because it’s hard enough to manage between two,” Malik said.

Malik and Gigi had made Bucks County their home after the birth of their daughter.

In 2021, shortly after TMZ first reported Yolanda Hadid was considering filing a police report, Malik said he would not contest her claims in an effort to protect his young daughter’s privacy.