Zayn Malik appears to have taken aim at his former One Direction bandmate Harry Styles after making a jibe about the ticket prices of his new tour.
Harry has found himself in the midst of controversy after presale went live for the Together, Together world tour, with many fans complaining they were being charged up to $1,000 for tickets.
And it seems the complaints haven't gone over Zayn's head, who made the dig while speaking to fans during his Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live on Wednesday night (28 January).
"I just want to say a big, big thank you to every single one of you for being here tonight. You could've been anywhere, but you decided to spend your night with me," he told fans. "Hopefully the ticket prices weren’t too high. Just saying."
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The upcoming tour, which is set to sell out, will take place following the release of Harry's fourth album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, released on 6 March, with diehard fans desperate to get their hands on tickets.
Tickets for the UK tour dates range from £44.10 to £466.24 for seated options or £144.65 to £279.45 for standing and then £468.85 to £725.45 for VIP packages. However, over the pond in New York, the most pricy ticket comes in at an eye-watering $1,667 (£1,208) for a VIP package.
"I’m a massive Harry Styles fan but we need to have a serious conversation about the absurd ticket prices some artists are now charging," one frustrated fan wrote on X.
"Makes music & entertainment completely inaccessible for a whole demographic of fans who don’t have hundreds to spend on a single ticket!"
Another wrote: "Hey @Harry_Styles, as someone who's loved you for almost 14 years and went to all the tours, I'm at a loss for words over how much you/ your team seem to have lost touch with reality in terms of residency shows and ticket prices.
"Music should be accessible. Remember how your started."
Meanwhile, the former X Factor contestant has faced backlash over the announcement that £1 of each ticket sold would be donated to LIVE Trust, which works to protect grassroots music venues in the UK.
"He’s the first artist this year to announce a major UK stadium tour with £1 from every ticket going to the LIVE Trust, directly supporting the UK’s grassroots venues," LIVE Trust wrote when announcing the partnership on Instagram.
"That £1 might feel small. But when artists at the top level step up, it unlocks serious, long-term support for the base that holds the whole live music ecosystem together. This model works. And it’s growing."
Despite the explanation, fans have complained the donation simply isn't enough when compared to the price of tickets.
"Making his fans pay $1,199 for a ticket and then $1 to charity when he could just lower the cost of tickets and donate the money himself," one wrote.
Another agreed: "£1 from a £1000 ticket? I would be embarrassed even to have that headline."
LADbible Group has reached out to Harry's reps for comment.
Topics: Music, Harry Styles, Celebrity
Emma Rosemurgey