Zayn Malik sparks controversy with cornrows amid Selena Gomez dating rumors

As rumors continue to swirl that Zayn Malik and Selena Gomez might be dating, the “Pillowtalk” crooner debuted a questionable new hairstyle on Instagram Thursday.

In the photo, Malik poses in the studio alongside music producer and engineer Daniel Zaidenstadt, his fresh cornrows on full display.

And while the singer’s Instagram fans liked the look, many on Twitter took issue with his mane makeover.

“Now I KNOWWWW that ain’t Zayn w some cornrows,” one tweeted of the star’s choice of a traditional black hairstyle, along with a series of sobbing emojis.

“zayn take out those god damn [sic] cornrows,” another begged.

“im not even mad about the cultural appropriation, im mad that it doesn’t even look good,” a third chimed in.

However, not everyone disapproved of the former One Direction member’s braids.

One Twitter commentator called the star “buff, hot and healthy,” while another wrote, “zayn looks good with the cornrows sorry y’all but I gotta stick beside him and tell the truth.”

On Instagram, one even joked that Gomez “won.”

This isn’t the first time Zayn’s tried out cornrows; he wore the same style for a time when he was with his ex, Gigi Hadid.

Following their 2021 split, he experimented multiple times with his mane, even dyeing his hair bright pink in 2022.

The Pakistani and British hitmaker is rumored to have since moved on from Hadid — with whom he shares 2-year-old daughter Khai — with Gomez.

The singers, both 30, sparked relationship speculation in March after they were spotted on what looked like a romantic New York City date night.