Zayn Malik has shared a devastating update with fans, forcing him to cancel his show at the last minute. The former One Direction star is currently on tour, performing to thousands of adoring fans in sold-out venues around the world with his solo music—and even some nostalgic 1D tunes. Tonight, the Dusk Till Dawn hitmaker, 32, was due to take to the stage in Mexico City. Alas, he’s issued an emotional statement explaining he is ‘really sick’.
Taking to his Instagram Story, the pop star wrote: ‘I’m heartbroken to say that I won’t be able to perform tonight in Mexico City. I’ve been really sick since this morning and despite trying everything to push through, my body just isn’t allowing it. I’m so sorry to let you down.’
The Pillowtalk vocalist continued: ‘The love and energy I always feel from my fans means the world to me, and it hurts deeply to miss this moment with you. Thank you for your understanding, and please know I’m sending all my love to each of you x’, he signed off. The Mexico City gig was to be Zayn’s last date on his Stairway to the Sky Tour, meaning his run of live shows has now come to an end.
Taking to X upon hearing the news, fans expressed their sadness as they wished for his speedy recovery. Others chimed in by speculating that the star’s voice has taken a beating since he ‘hardly does live tours’ so his vocals ‘aren’t used to the additional strain’ of ‘belting’ each night. ‘That’s why his voice was hoarsely during his speech at the end of the show last night :( [sic]’, wrote @tobesoolonelyy. ‘He needs to have a team that takes care of his voice and body, this is the third time this has happened IT CANNOT BE’, said @marxzayn. ‘Omw to fight whatever is making Zayn sick’, quipped @Eifieflare.
As fans have pointed out, this isn’t the first time the beloved musician has been forced to cancel a show this year. Zayn last cancelled a gig at Newcastle City Hall, which was axed mere minutes before the curtain was due to lift. He returned the next night, telling the audience and those who would inevitably watch on social media: ‘If you guys are seeing this online, I’m sorry I didn’t make the show yesterday. My voice just wasn’t working at all. I needed a day to kind of rest, so I appreciate everybody showing the love and, you know, still being here.’
Zayn initially apologised profusely for having to cancel the Newcastle show ‘at such short notice’, as fans were already entering the venue. ‘My voice just isn’t there at all tonight and without it, there’s no show,’ he wrote on socials at the time. ‘I’m truly sorry to let you down, especially at such short notice… I held onto hope until the very last moment,’ he added.
Zayn also rescheduled dates in Edinburgh last year, citing ‘unforeseen circumstances’. It later transpired that the reason was so he could attend Liam Payne’s funeral along with his fellow ex-bandmates after Payne died on October 16. Liam Payne died at the age of 31 after falling from a third-floor balcony at his hotel in Argentina, leaving behind his parents, two sisters, girlfriend Kate Cassidy, and eight-year-old son, Bear, whom he shares with Cheryl.
He made a triumphant comeback days after saying a final goodbye to Payne, with former bandmate Louis Tomlinson even surprisingly tagging along in the audience for one concert, having ended their long-running feud in the wake of Payne’s tragic death. The Strip That Down hitmaker has very much been an integral part of Zayn’s shows, as a tribute appeared on the screen each night as he left the stage. Alongside a pink heart, a message read: ‘Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro.’
Speaking explicitly about his loss for the first time in person, Zayn shouted out his late ‘brother’ while performing in Payne’s hometown, Wolverhampton. He said on the mic in November: ‘I’ve been doing something at the end of the show every night, and it’s been dedicated to my brother, Liam Payne. Rest in peace.’ Zayn continued: ‘I hope you’re seeing this; we’re in your hometown tonight, Wolverhampton; this is for you, Liam.’
The cancellation of the Mexico City concert was officially announced via a statement on Zayn’s Instagram account, where he expressed his disappointment and shared his struggle with illness. Ocesa, the concert promoter, also confirmed the cancellation, stating that Zayn does not feel in optimal condition to give the show his fans deserve. Refunds will be processed automatically for online purchases, and can be requested at Ticketmaster points of sale for point-of-sale purchases.
Fans expressed sadness on social media, with many sharing their disappointment and support for Zayn’s health. For instance, one fan lamented, ‘Zayn Malik hijo de perr..., una vez más has hecho llorar a mi hermana, y a mí me hiciste viajar 500 kilómetros en vano’, while another tweeted, ‘Si tuviera una moneda por cada vez que Zayn Malik me deja en marzo, tendría dos, lo que no es mucho pero es curioso que pasara dos veces’.
During his first show in Mexico City, Zayn had performed ‘Night Changes’, a song emblematic of One Direction, which provoked a moment of pure nostalgia among attendees. The venue was darkened to project a message on the screens remembering his ex-bandmate: ‘Liam Payne. 1993-2024. Te amo, hermano’.
As Zayn Malik continues to navigate the challenges of his health and the emotional toll of losing a close friend, his fans remain supportive, hoping for his swift recovery and a return to the stage in the near future.
