Zayn Malik reposts 2014 'Free Palestine' message after Chile concert backlash

Zayn Malik has responded to criticism over comments he made about Palestine by resharing a 2014 tweet on his Instagram account.

The former One Direction singer posted a screenshot of the tweet on Sunday with the caption, “This is for any confused individuals.. check the date.”

The post followed criticism of comments Malik made during his concert at Santiago’s Movistar Arena in Chile on October 2 as part of his Konnakol Tour. Malik told the crowd that he saw “a lot of political noise in the press” and said he did not think any life was insignificant.

Some people subsequently characterised Malik as unwilling to take a clear position on Palestine. The reaction also included comparisons with comments made by Ed Sheeran following controversy surrounding Macklemore’s Loop Tour appearances in September.

Malik’s reshared post featured a tweet he originally published in July 2014, during Israel’s offensive in Gaza. The tweet was retweeted around 220,000 times within days and reached his then audience of approximately 13 million followers.

The 2014 post also drew criticism from some Israeli fans, with a few making death threats against Malik, who was 21 at the time. He did not delete the tweet.

The singer has also been linked to Palestinian causes in more recent years. In April, while Malik was recovering in hospital, his cousin Sasha Malik encouraged people to donate to The Palestine Project on his behalf rather than sending flowers.