On the latest episode of Sean Evans’ acclaimed YouTube talk show, “Hot Ones” (Thursday, March 14), Zayn Malik, the chart-topping artist and former One Direction heartthrob, shared an unforgettable anecdote from his boy band days.
As the wings got hotter, Sean Evans asked Malik about memorable technical issues during their performances, prompting a vivid recollection of a heroic act to save bandmate Harry Styles from a pyrotechnic mishap at a 2013 One Direction concert.
“One time—There’s footage of it and it [actually] makes me look great,” Zayn joked. “But, on stage, Harry was right next to a Pyro, and the Pyro was about to go off because they were on timers. He had a towel over his head….. and he didn’t see that the pyro was there,” he recounted.
“You see me run from one side of the stage and push him out of the way,” Malik continued in between bites of spicy chicken. “And the pyro explodes in front of his face — that was [really] dangerous.”
In the video clip, concerned-looking Malik swiftly guided Styles away from the flames, averting a potential disaster and showcasing the camaraderie among the former bandmates. Louis Tomlinson appeared to notice the incident after Zayn Malik, while Niall Horan and Liam Payne continued with the show.
During the interview, Zayn fondly recalled a heartwarming anecdote about how the band coped with power outages and technical glitches by transitioning into acapella renditions of “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” to entertain their audience.
“In terms of technical difficulties, the whole rig would just go off sometimes. Like in our early gigs, we would have a power outage and there were no microphones so… we would just put our microphones down and burst into ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ acapella until the microphones were working again,” he reminisced laughing.
Additionally, Zayn also discussed receiving an original Iron Man comic signed by Stan Lee from filmmaker Morgan Spurlock during the filming of the One Direction movie. “I remember all the boys being super p**s off about it too because they didn’t get as good gifts and they gave me this signed Stan Lee comic book,” he giggles!
The episode coincided with Malik’s announcement of his upcoming fourth studio album, “Room Under the Stairs,” set to release on May 17. Malik shared that the album features a “very different sound” and is a “really raw and honest” reflection of his experiences over the past several years.
“I recorded most of it in a tiny shoe cabinet in my house,” he revealed, explaining the sentimental significance behind the album’s title. “I felt like it was fitting to name it after that room so people can get even more sentiment into what the whole idea behind it was.”
Zayn’s appearance on “Hot Ones” offered a nostalgic glimpse into his One Direction days and shed light on his evolving solo career. With Zayn Malik reemerging into the spotlight, fans eagerly await the release of his forthcoming album “Room Under The Stairs“, which promises to be the next musical masterpiece!
Pre-save “Room Under The Stairs” and listen to Zayn Malik’s latest single “What I Am” – out now!