Zayn Malik was forced to pull the plug on his scheduled performance in Mexico City on Friday, March 28, after a severe case of food poisoning sidelined both him and members of his tour crew.

The cancellation comes during Zayn Malik’s “Stairway to the Sky” Tour, which kicked off in November 2024 and marks his first tour in several years.

“I’m heartbroken to say that I won’t be able to perform tonight in Mexico City,” the singer shared via Instagram Stories just hours before showtime. “I’ve been really sick since this morning and, despite trying everything to push through, my body just isn’t allowing it.”

Malik expressed his regret over the cancellation, adding, “I’m so sorry to let you down. The love and energy I always feel from my fans mean 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 of my love to each of you.”

Later that evening, he gave fans a health update, revealing the extent of the illness. “Mexico, I love you even though myself and many of my crew got severe food poisoning,” Malik wrote. “It’s no joke. [I’m] still struggling.”

The former One Direction member also issued another heartfelt apology to fans who had planned to attend the show.

“To my fans, I’m so sorry, these shows have made me feel alive, happy, grateful and at home, and that’s all because of you,” he said. “These shows, your energy, your fan projects filled me with so much love and a feeling I can’t even describe. Big love.”

Speaking about the tour during a May 2024 appearance on SiriusXM’s “The Morning Mashup,” Malik said, “I don’t want to play a character, you know. I want to be me, and it takes longer and takes more self-reflection and it’s a longer process.”

He continued, “So, I think, you know, when people have a deadline and they want to get things out for a business sense, that would make sense, you know, for you to make things that fit different character backdrops or whatever, but for me, I just want it to feel genuine and like it comes from me. It’s always the main intention behind my creation.”

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time health issues have interfered with the tour. Back in December 2024, Malik canceled his scheduled performance at O2 City Hall Newcastle due to vocal problems.

“I’m so sorry to do this, but my voice just isn’t there at all tonight and without it there’s no show. I’m truly sorry to let you down, especially at short notice,” he wrote at the time. “I held onto hope until the very last moment. I’m hopeful with some rest tonight I’ll be back on stage tomorrow. My deepest apologies Newcastle love you all xx.”

The sudden and tragic death of Liam Payne has reportedly brought his One Direction bandmates, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik, closer than they’ve been in nearly a decade. Once bound by global fame and boy band brotherhood, the group had drifted apart in the years following their 2016 hiatus. But now, a shared grief has created a powerful reconnection.

According to Us Weekly, Payne’s passing served as a major wake-up call for the former bandmates, who had kept in touch only sporadically in recent years. “[Liam’s death] was a wake-up call for all of them,” a source revealed. “Prior, they kept in touch sporadically but didn’t have close friendships at all.”

That dynamic has now changed. “[They] are checking in on each other and feel closer than they have in years,” the insider continued. “It brought them back together.”

One Direction was formed in 2010 on the UK edition of “The X Factor,” where Simon Cowell famously brought the five solo artists together to form the group.

What followed was a meteoric rise to global superstardom, filled with chart-topping albums, sold-out stadium tours, and a legion of devoted fans.