Louis Tomlinson’s On-Stage Comment Left Zayn Malik Reeling During a live show, Louis Tomlinson reportedly referred to Zayn Malik as an “outsider” in front of the crowd. While Zayn kept smiling on stage, insiders claim he was deeply hurt by the remark. The silence from the other One Direction members only added to the moment’s emotional weight. That night marked a turning point for Zayn, planting the early seeds of his eventual departure from the band.